Rediff

Melbourne, Jan 31: Ricky Ponting had a major say in ending the racism row involving Harbhajan Singh but the Australian skipper is furious that the Indian off-spinner escaped with a light punishment, media reports in Melbourne said on Wednesday.

Realising that there was no concrete evidence to sustain a racial slur charge on Harbhajan, Ponting made the decision to hammer a deal and Symonds reluctantly agreed to it, a report in Herald Sun claimed.

The Australians wanted Harbhajan should at least be handed a ban of two one-day games or one Test.

Ponting wanted Harbhajan to face justice as he had breached his pact with Symonds and was seethed in anger after the move backfired and the Indian spinner escaped with a USD 3000 fine, the report said.

The report said Ponting also reacted angrily when the CA lawyer Brian Ward threatened to resign at the Adelaide Federal Court if the players didn't back his stance.

"Just fix it then," Ponting was understood to have said when emotions flared.