Bhajji slapped with 5-ODI ban

By OUR CORRESPONDENT

Mumbai, May 14: Harbhajan Singh was on Wednesday banned for five one-day games by the Board on Control for Cricket in India for slapping S. Sreesanth in the Indian Premier League match on May 25 against Kings XI Punjab.

He had earlier been handed a 11-match ban from the IPL. The ban will keep him away for the upcoming Bangladesh tour and the start of the Asia Cup which is to be held in Pakistan.

The disciplinary committee consisting of BCCI president Sharad Pawar, president elect Shashank Manohar and vice-president Chirayu Amin announced the ban after meeting Harbhajan Singh at the Cricket center in Mumbai here on the day.

On the other hand Sreesanth was also warned for his behavior on the field. The committee invoked Rule 3.21 of BCCI regulations for players, teams managers umpires and administrations.

"Under this provision the maximum punishment that can be meted out to a player is a ban up to a maximum of five ODI’s or three Test matches.

"In his case we decided to ban him for five one-dayers starting from May 14," Pawar said.

The committee took the decision after lawyer Sudhir Nanavati submitted a 14 page report to BCCI on Tuesday. The three member committee added that any further instance of misconduct would bring a life-ban down on the volatile spinner.