quick-news

Harbhajan Singh on Wednesday got absent with a five-match ODI ban for slap his India team- mate Sreesanth during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match.While the off-spinner was also warned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) of a life ban for any future misconduct, the pacer was asked to improve his on-field behaviour.Harbhajan seems to have got away lightly. What softened the stand of the hardliners inside the BCCI and the committee itself was his appeal for clemency and an vow from him a few days ago that there would not be any misconduct in the future.The appeal, it is learnt, was made on the advice of well-wishers within the BCCI.Sreesanth, despite his tears in community, also didn’t want the whole thing to be blown out of proportion as it affected his India teammate.A day after BCCI-appointed commissioner Sudhir Nanavati submitted a 14-page report, the disciplinary group acted swiftly to impose the ban on the off-spinner who will now miss the approaching tri-serie in Bangladesh (June 8-14) and two matches of the Asia Cup in Pakistan (June 24-July 6). The disciplinary committee comprise president Sharad Pawar, president-elect Shashank Manohar and vice-president Chirayu Amin met at the cricket centre in Mumbai.The 27-year-old Harbhajan has by now been banned from the ongoing IPL and fined Rs 3 crore match fee for the level 4 offence for the incident which took place in Mohali on April 25.“The group accordingly strong-minded to ban Harbhajan for five one-day Internationals, starting today (Wednesday) and further observed that any further instance of misconduct will invoke a life ban,” the BCCI said in a statement after the trial.“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 5 ODIs and/or 3 Test matches,” the statement said.Pawar said a copy of the account was given to Harbhajan who was heard by the committee before a final choice on the quantum of punishment was taken.The BCCI also told Sreesanth to mend his ways. Many in the BCCI are quite fed up with him and some see him as a difficulty youngster. The fact that the BCCI has made Sreesanth’s role in the whole episode community is more than a slap on the pacer’s approach.“The Board is constrained to warn you for your behaviour on the field and in the event you do not get better your behaviour, the Board would be forced to take suitable choice,” the letter written by secretary Niranjan Shah said.“The disciplinary committee also careful Sreesanth. He has to improve a lot and if he is does something similar in future, he will be dealt with a firm hand,” Shah later told reporters.Asked how Harbhajan reacted to his ban, Shah said, “he is okay, he knows that he is guilty and the BCCI has also given a warning that if he gets concerned in any further misconduct, he will be banned for life.“He has learnt his lesson, he knows exactly where he stands,” he added.Shah made it clear that the BCCI would not tolerate any such indiscipline.“It is sure that if any indiscipline is seen on the field the Board would be very strict. It won’t allow itself to be taken for granted,” he said.Nanavati, who inquired into the slapping row, is satisfied with the decision taken by the disciplinary group and said it was quick, appropriate and would set an example.“There are two parts to this choice. First, the choice was quick. To keep any one in tension including the offender and people at big is not proper,” Nanavati said.“The second thing, the sentence is suitable as it is not less not additional. ,” Nanavati said.