Bhajji banned for 11 IPL matches

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has been banned by the Indian Premier League for rest of its matches for slapping paceman S Sreesanth, has replied to the Indian Cricket Board's show cause notice issued to him. "He has given his reply, but I cannot reveal its contents," said BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah from Rajkot.

The temperamental bowler, who captained Mumbai Indians in their first three matches in the ongoing Twenty20 League, was asked by the BCCI for explanation for slapping Sreesanth after the IPL match against King's XI Punjab at Mohali on April 25.

Harbhajan, a BCCI-contracted player, was slapped with the show cause on April 26 and suspended for the fourth tie of his team against Deccan Chargers yesterday and given time till today to send his reply.

BCCI, under whose jurisdiction IPL is being held, has already appointed Sudhir Nanavati of the Gujarat Cricket Association as the Commissioner to inquire into the matter and his findings are to be put before its disciplinary committee headed by president Sharad Pawar for deciding the further course of action. "Accordingly, Harbhajan Singh has been banned for the rest of the IPL matches besides 100 per cent fine on his match fees," said Modi in the presence of Engineer, Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth. Under ICC code of conduct, level 4.2 offence relates to physically assaulting a fellow player, match official or spectators, the penalty for which ranges from a ban for a minimum of 5 Test matches or 10 one-day internationals and a maximum of life ban.

Modi said the code of conduct applied to both the players and officials. The match referee Engineer warned Sreesanth on his behaviour in the Mohali match and the previous matches. "He was told that in future his on-field aggression would be taken seriously," Modi said.

About Rajput, the IPL Commissioner said Rajput was found guilty of level 2 offence that pertained to acting against the spirit of the game. He was behind Harbhajan and he did not try to rein in the bowler. The video footage of the incident showed Harbhajan shaking hands with Punjab players. Sreesanth was third in the line but instead of shaking hands, Harbhajan actually slapped him. Rajput was following Harbhajan down the line but he went on shaking hands with other players, Modi said.

Harbhajan told reporters "all I want to say is whatever happened and whatever I did was grossly wrong. Sreesanth is like my brother. We have played together and we will play together again. "I got punishment for whatever I did but the Board has always treated me like its child and I hope they will continue to support me. When I come back to play again, I will bring smiles to your faces," he said.

After the press conference, Engineer got Harbhajan and Sreesanth to shake hands and hug each other with smile on their faces. "We are all human beings and mistakes do happen," Engineer said. Engineer said that a "very very fair" hearing was given to all the sides. "No track record has been taken into account because what actually happened is lot more serious than you guys think".

He had good words for both Harbhajan and Sreesanth. He said Sreesanth, who is such a lovely boy, remained quiet most of the time during the hearing. About Harbhajan Singh, the former Test wicketkeeper said in his view Harbhajan Singh is the greatest off-spinner India has produced. "But he stepped out of the line and paid the penalty".

Reacting to the decision, BCCI's Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said "people were shocked by his action and I am sure everybody agrees with the stand that has been taken. Getting physical with a fellow player cannot be condemned enough", Shetty said. "Whatever the IPL has decided is applicable to their matches. The BCCI action will be separate. If found guilty, he will definitely face some action from the Board", he said. Shetty said that there was a need to counsel the younger players of the team. "I think as a teacher, these players need to be counselled because they are coming from backgrounds where they may not be all that well educated". Asked about Sreesanth's aggressive behaviour, he said the BCCI was not looking at him at the moment.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has been banned by the Indian Premier League for rest of its matches for slapping paceman S Sreesanth, has replied to the Indian Cricket Board's show cause notice issued to him. "He has given his reply, but I cannot reveal its contents," said BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah from Rajkot.

The temperamental bowler, who captained Mumbai Indians in their first three matches in the ongoing Twenty20 League, was asked by the BCCI for explanation for slapping Sreesanth after the IPL match against King's XI Punjab at Mohali on April 25.

Harbhajan, a BCCI-contracted player, was slapped with the show cause on April 26 and suspended for the fourth tie of his team against Deccan Chargers yesterday and given time till today to send his reply.

BCCI, under whose jurisdiction IPL is being held, has already appointed Sudhir Nanavati of the Gujarat Cricket Association as the Commissioner to inquire into the matter and his findings are to be put before its disciplinary committee headed by president Sharad Pawar for deciding the further course of action. "Accordingly, Harbhajan Singh has been banned for the rest of the IPL matches besides 100 per cent fine on his match fees," said Modi in the presence of Engineer, Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth. Under ICC code of conduct, level 4.2 offence relates to physically assaulting a fellow player, match official or spectators, the penalty for which ranges from a ban for a minimum of 5 Test matches or 10 one-day internationals and a maximum of life ban.

Modi said the code of conduct applied to both the players and officials. The match referee Engineer warned Sreesanth on his behaviour in the Mohali match and the previous matches. "He was told that in future his on-field aggression would be taken seriously," Modi said.

About Rajput, the IPL Commissioner said Rajput was found guilty of level 2 offence that pertained to acting against the spirit of the game. He was behind Harbhajan and he did not try to rein in the bowler. The video footage of the incident showed Harbhajan shaking hands with Punjab players. Sreesanth was third in the line but instead of shaking hands, Harbhajan actually slapped him. Rajput was following Harbhajan down the line but he went on shaking hands with other players, Modi said.

Harbhajan told reporters "all I want to say is whatever happened and whatever I did was grossly wrong. Sreesanth is like my brother. We have played together and we will play together again. "I got punishment for whatever I did but the Board has always treated me like its child and I hope they will continue to support me. When I come back to play again, I will bring smiles to your faces," he said.

After the press conference, Engineer got Harbhajan and Sreesanth to shake hands and hug each other with smile on their faces. "We are all human beings and mistakes do happen," Engineer said. Engineer said that a "very very fair" hearing was given to all the sides. "No track record has been taken into account because what actually happened is lot more serious than you guys think".

He had good words for both Harbhajan and Sreesanth. He said Sreesanth, who is such a lovely boy, remained quiet most of the time during the hearing. About Harbhajan Singh, the former Test wicketkeeper said in his view Harbhajan Singh is the greatest off-spinner India has produced. "But he stepped out of the line and paid the penalty".

Reacting to the decision, BCCI's Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said "people were shocked by his action and I am sure everybody agrees with the stand that has been taken. Getting physical with a fellow player cannot be condemned enough", Shetty said. "Whatever the IPL has decided is applicable to their matches. The BCCI action will be separate. If found guilty, he will definitely face some action from the Board", he said. Shetty said that there was a need to counsel the younger players of the team. "I think as a teacher, these players need to be counselled because they are coming from backgrounds where they may not be all that well educated". Asked about Sreesanth's aggressive behaviour, he said the BCCI was not looking at him at the moment.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has been banned by the Indian Premier League for rest of its matches for slapping paceman S Sreesanth, has replied to the Indian Cricket Board's show cause notice issued to him. "He has given his reply, but I cannot reveal its contents," said BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah from Rajkot.

The temperamental bowler, who captained Mumbai Indians in their first three matches in the ongoing Twenty20 League, was asked by the BCCI for explanation for slapping Sreesanth after the IPL match against King's XI Punjab at Mohali on April 25.

Harbhajan, a BCCI-contracted player, was slapped with the show cause on April 26 and suspended for the fourth tie of his team against Deccan Chargers yesterday and given time till today to send his reply.

BCCI, under whose jurisdiction IPL is being held, has already appointed Sudhir Nanavati of the Gujarat Cricket Association as the Commissioner to inquire into the matter and his findings are to be put before its disciplinary committee headed by president Sharad Pawar for deciding the further course of action. "Accordingly, Harbhajan Singh has been banned for the rest of the IPL matches besides 100 per cent fine on his match fees," said Modi in the presence of Engineer, Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth. Under ICC code of conduct, level 4.2 offence relates to physically assaulting a fellow player, match official or spectators, the penalty for which ranges from a ban for a minimum of 5 Test matches or 10 one-day internationals and a maximum of life ban.

Modi said the code of conduct applied to both the players and officials. The match referee Engineer warned Sreesanth on his behaviour in the Mohali match and the previous matches. "He was told that in future his on-field aggression would be taken seriously," Modi said.

About Rajput, the IPL Commissioner said Rajput was found guilty of level 2 offence that pertained to acting against the spirit of the game. He was behind Harbhajan and he did not try to rein in the bowler. The video footage of the incident showed Harbhajan shaking hands with Punjab players. Sreesanth was third in the line but instead of shaking hands, Harbhajan actually slapped him. Rajput was following Harbhajan down the line but he went on shaking hands with other players, Modi said.

Harbhajan told reporters "all I want to say is whatever happened and whatever I did was grossly wrong. Sreesanth is like my brother. We have played together and we will play together again. "I got punishment for whatever I did but the Board has always treated me like its child and I hope they will continue to support me. When I come back to play again, I will bring smiles to your faces," he said.

After the press conference, Engineer got Harbhajan and Sreesanth to shake hands and hug each other with smile on their faces. "We are all human beings and mistakes do happen," Engineer said. Engineer said that a "very very fair" hearing was given to all the sides. "No track record has been taken into account because what actually happened is lot more serious than you guys think".

He had good words for both Harbhajan and Sreesanth. He said Sreesanth, who is such a lovely boy, remained quiet most of the time during the hearing. About Harbhajan Singh, the former Test wicketkeeper said in his view Harbhajan Singh is the greatest off-spinner India has produced. "But he stepped out of the line and paid the penalty".

Reacting to the decision, BCCI's Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said "people were shocked by his action and I am sure everybody agrees with the stand that has been taken. Getting physical with a fellow player cannot be condemned enough", Shetty said. "Whatever the IPL has decided is applicable to their matches. The BCCI action will be separate. If found guilty, he will definitely face some action from the Board", he said. Shetty said that there was a need to counsel the younger players of the team. "I think as a teacher, these players need to be counselled because they are coming from backgrounds where they may not be all that well educated". Asked about Sreesanth's aggressive behaviour, he said the BCCI was not looking at him at the moment.