Harbhajan Singh doesn’t forget easily, says Ricky Ponting was out early in his 2003 matchwinning World Cup innings

MORE than a decade has passed but former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh isn’t letting go of a decision from the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh (L) looks towards Australian batsman and captain Ricky Ponting during the quarter-final match of The ICC Cricket World Cup at The Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera in Ahmedabad, 24/03/2011.

THE match might have been played more than a decade ago but former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh isn’t letting go of a decision from the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

Harbhajan Singh during a training session at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

Harbhajan, perhaps best known to Australian cricket fans for his verbal on-field stoushes with the Aussies during his Test and one-day career, this week weighed into a Twitter conversation with the game’s governing body via social media.

VOTE BELOW ... WAS ‘PUNTER’ OUT?

Harbhajan believes former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, who led the Aussies to victory in the 2003 decider, was trapped LBW earlier in his innings but incorrectly adjudged not out by umpire Steve Bucknor.

Ponting went on to make an astonishing 140 not out from just 121 balls as Australia racked up an insurmountable 2-359.

India could only manage 234 in reply as the Aussies won by 125 runs and retained the World Cup.

In the countdown to this year’s World Cup, the ICC is highlighting some memorable moments and this week tweeted a link to Ponting’s innings.

That’s where Harbhajan came in, replying in response to the ICC tweet:

“@ICC punter was lbw out at 40 odd in the icc wc 2003 final but David shepherd umpire gave him not out then he went on to score 140.”

Harbhajan later deleted the tweet but the video of the appeal in question — by Indian bowler Dinesh Mongia — was uploaded to YouTube.

As you can see in the video above, the Indians seem to have a pretty fair case for their appeal (even if Harbhajan’s recollection of the umpire is a little hazy).

But we think it’s time Harbhajan let this one go.