'India-Australia relations not to be affected'
Tensions between the Australian and Indian teams following the second Test will not hurt relations between the two countries, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said.
Tensions between the Australian and Indian teams following the second cricket Test will not hurt relations between the two countries, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said.
Indians are livid at a three-match ban handed down to spinner Harbhajan Singh after he was found guilty of racially abusing Australia's Andrew Symonds after a hearing conducted by ICC Match Referee Mike Procter.
The Indians are also angered by the number of umpiring blunders which largely contributed to their 122-run defeat.
Smith said it was not for him to advise either team or cricketing authorities but was confident the issue would not hurt bilateral relations.
"I don't see any problems in the relationship arising through the Test series," Smith was quoted as saying in media reports.
"I don't see, in the end, anything occurring out of the current Australia-India series other than, in the end, cricket being the winner," he said.
"In the end, Australia and India, both through cricket and generally, will continue a very warm and friendly and strong relationship," the minister said.