New Delhi, Jan 8: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today said that the cricket tour of Australia will continue and Team India would leave for Canberra. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the BCCI working committee here.

The tour has been in jeopardy over the three Test match ban imposed on Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh for his alleged racial remarks against Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds and the dubious umpiring decision in the second Test match at Sydney Cricket Ground.

The tour could go on, but it would be under continuous review by the BCCI, N Srinivasan, a board official, said after the meeting.

The working committee also authorised BCCI President Sharad Pawar to take all possible steps to clear Harbhajan's name of the 'obnoxious and baseless allegations' levelled at him.

The ban on Harbhajan was unacceptable and illegal, the BCCI said, adding that the board is with him at every step.

Srinivasan said that the board would appeal to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to resolve the matter at the earliest.

About the ICC decision to allow Harbhajan play until the appeal against the ban has been decided, Srinivasan said that this could only be an interim arrangement.

The board would not be satisfied with nothing less than a lifting of the ban, he added.

The ICC had received an appeal by Harbhajan against his ban, which has technically placed him in a situation where he would be eligible to play for the third Test match in Perth starting January 16.

The ICC is yet to decide on the BCCI appeal on Harbhajan's ban.

The BCCI working committee also deliberated on the umpiring blunders, which cost India the second Test in Sydney.

Earlier today, the ICC has decided to replace Umpire Steve Bucknor with Billy Bowden for the Perth Test, and to bring in ICC Chief Referee Ranjan Madugalle to assist in ensuring the match is played in the best possible spirit. (ANI)