January 15, 2008	Tuesday	Muharram 05, 1429

PERTH, Jan 14: Australian spinner Brad Hogg is free to play against India after the tourists withdrew their complaint that he made offensive comments during the contentious second Test in Sydney.

Hogg had been accused of calling Indian captain Anil Kumble and wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni “b*******” at the Sydney Cricket Ground and was due to face a code of conduct hearing here on Monday.

Hogg arrived for the hearing with Cricket Australia officials, but Kumble announced that the Indians had decided to drop the allegations after a peace meeting with Australian captain Ricky Ponting and International Cricket Council chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle just an hour earlier.

“From what happened with Ricky and I, we had a discussion with Ranjan and after that it was important that the game of cricket moved on,” Kumble said. “Cricket is larger than the individual and it was important that we forgot about what happened in Sydney as one of those bad moments and that it was time to move on.

“So in view of that, we decided as a team that we withdraw the charge made against Brad Hogg.”

Hogg was relieved and thanked the Indians. “It's a kind gesture, a lovely gesture by the Indian team and it's much appreciated by myself and the Australian cricket team,” he said.—AFP