Harbhajan Singh banned for 11 IPL matches

In the just concluded IPL hearing at the ITC Maurya hotel in Delhi on Monday, Team India’s off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been banned for 11 Indian Premier League (IPL) matches by the IPL governing council, according to reports by news channel Times Now .

Accordng to the channel, IPL Chairman Lalit Modi said that Harbhajan has been fined 100 per cent of the match fee. Mumbai Indians coach Lalchand Rajput, who accompanied Bhajji in the hearing, was charged under level 2 of ICC Code of Conduct. The team coach was also fined 50 per cent of his match fee for not stopping Harbhajan.

Modi said, “It was an unprovoked attack by Harbhajan, and he can appeal against the ban imposed on him.”

Meanwhile, S Sreesanth was also warned of his behaviour by the IPL governing council.

During the course of the hearing, Harbhajan pleaded guilty and regretted his actions for hurting Sreesanth’s sentiments. According to the sources, Bhajji carried a letter in reply to BCCI’s show cause notice in the hearing. In letter to the BCCI, Bhajji said he slapped S Sreesanth post the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab on April 25.

Reacting to the ban slapped on Harbhajan, BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said, “Bhajji has accepted guilt and is apologetic.”

“Players won’t get away if they behave like this. Bhajji assaulted a fellow player, which was shocking. BCCI can also take action against him,” added Shetty.

Meanwhile, the BCCI appointed advocate Sudhir Nanavati as Commissioner to make preliminary inquiry into Harbhajan’s slapping incident. Advocate Nanavati will inquire into the case of Bhajji flouting BCCI guidelines. Nanavati will submit report to BCCI president Sharad Pawar within 15 days. If found guilty, Bhajji may face 10-IPL matches ban. BCCI’s disciplinary committee will look into Nanavati’s report before giving the final verdict.