BCCI slaps five-ODI ban on Harbhajan | Bad record

MILD RAP: Harbhajan has escaped with just a five-ODI ban for slapping a fellow player on the field.

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Keywords: Ban, Bcci

New Delhi: Harbhajan Singh has been banned for five One-Day Internationals by the Disciplinary Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for slapping India teammate S Sreesanth after the first-round match Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab on April 25.

With the ban coming into immediate effect, Harbhajan will miss the tri-series in Bangladesh and the start of the Asia Cup in Pakistan next month.

“Harbhajan has seen the report subimmited by Nanavati. Whatever Nanavati has written it has been accepted by Harbahjan. He has been found guilty under BCCI regulation 3.2.1. Looking into all these Harbhajan has been banned for five ODIs. Any further instance of misconduct will lead to life ban,” BCCI President Sharad Pawar warned.

Harbhajan appeared before BCCI Disciplinary Committee comprising Pawar, president-elect Shashank Manohar, and Vice-President Chirayu Amin in Mumbai on Wednesday afternoon.

The Disciplinary Committee discussed the 14-page report of the BCCI-appointed Appeals Commissioner Sudhir Nanavati on the slapping issue.

A copy of the report was given to Harbhajan and the Committee heard his version of the event.

Harbhajan admitted his guilt and asked for leniency and assured the Committee that there would not be any misconduct on his part in the future.

The Committee invoked Rule 3.2.1 of the BCCI Regulations for Players, Team officials, Managers, Umpires and Administrators. Under this provision, the maximum punishment that can be meted out to a player is 'a ban up to a maximum of five ODIs and/ or three Tests'.

The 27-year-old off-spinner has already been banned for 11 matches by the IPL and will also lose about Rs 3 crore in match fees.

Sreesanth was also warned by the BCCI and asked to mend his ways on the field.

"The Board is constrained to warn you for your behavior on the field and in the event you do not improve your behavior, the Board would be constrained to take appropriate decision," the letter, written by BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah, stated.