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Cricket

Harbhajan banned from IPL for striking Sreesanth

28/04/2008

Mumbai Indians captain Harbhajan Singh has been banned for the rest of the Indian Premier League season for hitting Punjab Kings bowler Sreesanth.

The incident happened immediately after the Twenty20 match on Friday evening after Sreesanth is alleged to have made comments that provoked Harbhajan.

Television pictures then showed the off-spinner strike out at his countryman, knocking him to the ground where he apparently began crying.

It has been reported that Harbhajan later spoke to Sreesanth and apologised for his actions.

However, the Punjab Kings club - one of the eight multi-million dollar IPL franchises - lodged an official complaint, which was heard at a disciplinary meeting today.

And after being urged by several pundits to crack down on such undisciplined behaviour towards other players, the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) handed Harbhajan a lengthy suspension.

Reacting to the incident Kings captain Yuvraj Singh described Harbhajan's actions as "totally unacceptable", adding: "This is an ugly incident.

"You do not want to see such things off the field, especially after such a win. I am pretty upset at what has happened."

The incident is not the first controversy surrounding the player.

Earlier this year, Harbhajan caused a stir by allegedly making racist remarks towards Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds.