Indian spinner congratulated Australian fast bowler Brett Lee for a good delivery by "patting him on the backside".
Court documents released last night from Tuesday's hearing at the Adelaide Federal Court found when Symonds was questioned by Indian lawyer V. R. Manohar on whether he had objected to Harbhajan patting Lee, the Queenslander said: "Did I have an objection to it? My objection was that a Test match is no place to be friendly with an opposition player, is my objection."
Just a week after Australia made a renewed pledge to its Spirit of Cricket pact, Justice Hansen revealed yesterday: "If that is his view, I hope it is not one shared by all international cricketers. It would be a sad day for cricket if it is." Brett Lee urged the two teams to learn from the controversy and move on for the sake of cricket's future.
"I still believe Australian cricket and cricketers are respected and as long as everyone learns from the fall out of Sydney, I think we will be in a better place," Lee told PTI in an interview from Adelaide.
"If I can see a positive out of it I am sure the two teams will have more of an appreciation of cultures," he added.
Episode is finally drawing to a close with the ICC-appointed appeals commissioner New Zealand judge Justice John Hansen lifting the three-Test ban on Harbhajan for racist abuse by downgrading the charge against him.
The controversy has threatened to jeopardize Australian players' commercial interests like product endorsements in India.
Harbhajan, who managed to shed the racism slur and get a three-Test ban lifted by Appeals Commissioner John Hansen yesterday, will now move with an extra security ring around him. It was learnt that four security personnel would be giving him protection. The spinner, meanwhile, appeared upbeat on arrival here this afternoon. Harbhajan Singh has been provided with additional security with the authorities here fearing the Indian off-spinner could be subjected to taunts and insults by hostile Australian fans.