Indian players gentlemen: Dickie Bird

New Delhi:

The Harbhajan issue has very quickly become the Steve Bucknor issue. After Bucknor was dropped from the Perth Test, as requested by the Indian cricket team and the BCCI, there have been varied reactions from different quarters.

NDTV caught up with legendary English umpire Dickie Bird, who feels that it is time for Bucknor to say good-bye to international cricket and that he has always known Indian players to be gentlemen.

"Bucknor should retire," said Dickie Bird, Former ICC umpire.

Ray Mali, President, ICC on Bucknor controversy

"We recognised from the outset that the umpiring in the second Test was below the very high standard we have come to expect from our Elite Panel and we noted with concern the enormous reaction to it and realised that we could potentially have a serious international diplomatic incident on our hands," said Mali.

He also went onto say, "By standing Steve down for the third Test we have successfully defused the situation, at least for the time being, and so what was a sporting issue has not become a political crisis."