The spinner was suspended for three games for allegedly making a racist comment to Australian Andrew Symonds in the second Test in Sydney.

Harbhajan can play until his appeal, which could take place before the third Test in Perth on 16 January.

"There's no question of it being called off," India cricket board president Sharad Pawar was quoted as saying.

BCCI board spokesman Rajiv Shukla quoted Pawar and said: "He (Pawar) said the two boards intend to maintain good relations as there is no problem with the two."

The tour was called into question after a tempestuous second Test, which Australia won in dramatic style.

India were incensed over several controversial umpiring decisions, especially by Steve Bucknor, but he has been replaced by Billy Bowden for the next Test.

India captain Anil Kumble also said he and Australian counterpart Ricky Ponting "decided that in the case of a disputed catch we would take the word of the fielder concerned, if he was certain".

But he felt this was not the case from the Australian camp during the second Test and, afterwards, said: "Only one team was playing within the spirit of the game, that's all I can say."

When the ban was dished out to Harbhajan the tourists were so incensed they delayed travelling to Canberra for the third Test.

In a statement the Board of Control for Cricket in India called the ban "totally uncalled for, unjustified and patently illegal" and said it would "take all possible steps... to get the player cleared of the obnoxious and baseless accusation".

India also put in a complaint over comments made by Australian spinner Brad Hogg to Kumble and Mahendra Dhoni as the two nations became embroiled in an unsavoury row.

But there seems to be an uneasy peace between the two camps at present ahead of the start of the third Test.

(BBC)

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