Broad plays down Zaheer-Haddin spat

Aus wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and Zaheer Khan's angry exchange of words during the 1st Test had all the elements of snowballing into a major crisis but match referee Chris Broad said it was just a 'chat'.

Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and India fast bowler Zaheer Khan's angry exchange of words during the first Test had all the elements of snowballing into a major crisis but match referee Chris Broad has played down the incident, saying it was just a 'chat'.

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"It's a Test match involving Australia isn't it," Broad was quoted as saying in The Australian.

"There's always a bit of chat. Nothing was reported to me," said the Englishman.

Zaheer and Haddin got engaged in an animated exchange shortly before a rain break on the third day of the drawn first Test, raising fears that the acrimony which engulfed the Sydney Test in January would resurface.

The left-arm pacer protested against Haddin's behaviour with Australia skipper Ricky Ponting even as the teams left the ground.

However, Broad and umpires Rudi Dozen and Asad Rauf found nothing wrong with the behaviour of the players.