The Australian team took a unanimous decision to send back Andrew Symonds home and is now backing him unequivocally.

By Ranabir Majumdar & Shreyas Sharma

Vice captain Michael Clarke, considered among Roy's best pals, said Symonds "is a very good friend of mine and hopefully he will be back soon".

Clarke again defended the team's decision to send Symonds back home during the ODI series against Bangladesh after the burly all-rounder failed to turn up for a team meeting as he went angling.

"The decision to send Symonds back was made on behalf of the team," he told reporters on Tuesday at Hyderabad.

Another of Symonds' close friend and fellow Queenslander Matthew Hayden called him a "wonderful all-round cricketer" and also said he was sure that Roy "is ready to play".

He expressed confidence that his fishing mate will be back in the national fold as soon as possible.

Shane Watson, who was picked in place of Symonds for the tour, said he was looking forward to playing his role to perfection in Symmo's absence.

"I gave him an opportunity during the Ashes due to my injury and he made the most of it. Andrew has done well in the last couple of years. Now I have got a chance and I will try and make the most of it," Watson noted.