Disciplinary Committee bans Harbhajan for 5 ODIs

Mumbai, May 14 (PTI) The Cricket Board today banned Harbhajan Singh for five one day internationals for slapping his India teammate S Sreesanth and warned the temperamental spinner of a life ban for any further misconduct on his part.

A day after BCCI-appointed Commissioner Sudhir Nanavati submitted a 14-page report to the Board, the Disciplinary Committee, headed by president Sharad Pawar imposed the ban, which means that the beleaguered spinner will miss the forthcoming tri-series in Bangladesh and two matches of the Asia Cup in Pakistan.

The 27-year-old Harbhajan, who had already been banned from the ongoing Indian Premier League and fined a whopping Rs three crore match fee for the level 4 offence, was summoned by the Disciplinary Committee to hear his views on the incident which happened after an IPL match in Mohali on April 25.

"The Committee accordingly decided to ban Harbhajan Singh for five one-day internationals, starting today and further observed that any further instance of misconduct will invoke a life-ban," the BCCI said in a statement after the committee's hearing.

"The Committee invoked Rule 3.2.1 of the BCCI Regulations for Players, Team officials, Managers, Umpires and Administrators. Under this provision, the maximum punishment that can be meted out to a player is a ban up to a maximum of 5 ODIs and / or 3 Test matches," Pawar told reporters.

He said a copy of the report was given to Harbhajan who was heard by the committee before taking a final decision on the quantum of punishment.

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