Cricket might be called the "gentlemen's game", but it has been anything but at times over the years.

We count down the top 20 most controversial moments in cricket history.

PART 1

9. Monkeygate (2007-08)

Politics and cricket don't mix. Monkeygate was the culmination of two proud countries unwilling to take a backward step. After India defeated Australia in the 2007 T20 World Cup Semi-Final, all-rounder Andrew Symonds stated the Indians got carried away with their celebrations and sparked a passion within the Australian camp. 

Next month when the same sides met for an ODI series, Symonds, man-of-the-series with 365 runs at 73, was racially abused by the boisterous crowd and allegedly called a 'monkey' by Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh. Tensions had been simmering, and the fuse was lit.

It exploded the following Summer when they met in a heated Test series down under. Symonds and Harbhajan clashed again on Day 3 of the Third Test in Sydney. After Harbhajan swatted a four off Brett Lee and said 'bad luck,' Symonds rushed over, and the two clashed again, with Symonds stating Harbhajan called him a 'big monkey.'

A hearing followed, and Harbhajan faced a three-Test suspension. This suspension was reduced to a 50 per cent match fee fine after the BCCI threatened to boycott the series and go home. Still to this day, no one knows what happened. 

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