Harbhajan, Sreesanth row not good for IPL: Modi

Upset over the row between Mumbai Indians stand-in captain Harbhajan Singh and Kings XI Punjab paceman S Sreesanth, Indian Premier League Chairman Lalit Modi said it was a "serious matter" and was not good for the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament.

But Modi said the IPL committee would wait for an official report on the matter before deciding about their next action in the issue.

"It looks like a serious matter the way it's being shown on television channels but I can't say anything now. In any tournament it should not happen, it's unfortunate what happened yesterday," Modi said in Chandigarh (Mohali).

Harbhajan allegedly slapped Sreesanth after Mumbai Indians lost their IPL match to Kings XI Punjab last night and the paceman was seen bitterly crying on the field.

Modi, however, said the IPL committee could take any decision only after receiving an official report on the matter as picture was still not clear about what exactly happened between the two players on Friday night.

"The incident in itself is sketchy. There is no clear evidence at this moment, there are different versions about what may have happened. But at the end of the day we have to take cognizance of the fact that happened on the field.

"(So) we are waiting for the match referee and umpire's report only after which our committee will take a decision. The tournament is being played under the ICC guidelines, besides there are also tournament guidelines for the players," he said.

"Until the match referee informs us we will be handicapped. There is no question of taking a suo moto action," Modi added.

BCCI Vice president Rajiv Shukla also said the Board would wait for the report from the team management before deciding on the future course of action.

The Kings XI team, led by Yuvraj Singh, is reportedly planning to lodge a complaint against the off-spinner, who later apologised to the paceman in the dressing room of the Punjab team.

But Harbhajan, who had preferred to maintain silence on the issue during the post match conference last night, downplayed the row before leaving for Mumbai with the team on Saturday morning.

"A lot of things happen in a family. We are part of one family. I think a lot of things which are coming out in the media, whatever have happened we have sorted out all, everything is fine now," Harbhajan said.

Sreesanth, on his part, also said everything was "normal" between him and Harbhajan. "Everything is normal, there is nothing between us," he said.

Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar, who is yet to play an IPL match because of a groin injury, refused to talk about the issue. "I don't want to talk about it," he said.

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