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Harbhajan handed five-match ban by India

14/05/2008

Harbhajan Singh has been banned for five one-day internationals for striking international team-mate Sreesanth during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match.

An argument between the two men - both Indian internationals – following the conclusion of a match between Harbhajan's Mumbai Indians and Sreesanth's King's XI Punjab became heated.

And Harbhajan was seen to strike out at the seam bowler, leaving him slumped on the ground in tears.

The spinner attended a disciplinary hearing following the incident in which he was suspended for the remaining 11 matches of the IPL season.

However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed at the time it may look to extend that punishment to prevent Harbhajan from playing for his country as well.

Consequently BCCI commissioner Sudhir Nanavati led an investigation – the results of which were handed down by chairman Sharad Pawar today.

"The BCCI have met today [and] Harbhajan Singh was also invited for the meeting - we gave him the opportunity to speak," Pawar said.

"A copy of the report of Justice Nanavati, who filed a report on our behalf, was also shown to him. He pleaded guilty to all charges and accepted it.

"The committee thus came to the conclusion, under the BCCI code of conduct item number 3.251, the maximum punishment for this offence was a ban for five ODIs or three Tests.

"So we decided to ban him for five ODIs."

The report also stated that Harbhajan, who has never been far from controversy throughout his career, risked a life ban from the game if he is guilty of "any further misconduct".

The suspension means Harbhajan will miss the Tri-Nations Cup against Bangladesh and Pakistan next month, as well as a substantial part of the Asia Cup in late June and early July.