Harbhajan Singh has been banned by the Indian board for five ODIs for slapping Sreesanth during an IPL match last month. The ban means Harbhajan will miss India’s forthcoming tri-series in Bangladesh and the start of the Asia Cup in Pakistan, in addition to 11 matches in the IPL as earlier decided by the league.
The BCCI’s disciplinary committee, comprising president Sharad Pawar, president-elect Shashank Manohar and vice-president Chirayu Amin, handed out the punishment after meeting Harbhajan in Mumbai.
The committee invoked Rule 3.2.1 of the BCCI regulations and handed out the maximum punishment under it. “Under this provision, the maximum punishment that can be meted out to a player is ‘a ban up to a maximum of 5 ODIs and / or 3 Test matches’,” a release from the board said.
“The committee accordingly decided to ban Harbhajan Singh for five one-day internationals, starting today (14th May 2008), and further observed that any further instance of misconduct will invoke a life-ban.”
Sudhir Nanavati, the board’s investigating commissioner who submitted a 14-page report on the incident, was also present at the meeting. Nanavati concluded his investigation into the row on May 12 and submitted his findings to the board.
Source: Cricinfo
May 14th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Harbhajan should have been banned for more ODIs for sure, at least 20 I would say but make no mistake, I am not pissed off at the guy at all. He made a mistake and admitted to it and took the punishment. Everybody makes mistakes and Harbhajan made his first one (I dont count australia). I will be pissed off at him if he reapeats this. The guy I am pissed off at is Sreesanth the cry baby for staying on the ground and crying. His aggression on the field is out of place and mistimed. You are no Wasim Akram