UPDATE 1-Cricket-India's Harbhajan suspended over slapping row

(updates with suspension)

By N.Ananthanarayanan

NEW DELHI, April 26 (Reuters) - The Indian board suspended spinner Harbhajan Singh on Saturday pending a disciplinary hearing into a slapping incident involving compatriot Shanthakumaran Sreesanth in an Indian Premier League (IPL) game.

The Hindustan Times daily reported Harbhajan had slapped the young fast bowler after Friday night's match.

Television pictures showed Sreesanth sobbing after his Mohali team defeated Mumbai, who were captained by Harbhajan in the absence of the injured Sachin Tendulkar.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah said the spinner was asked to explain his actions before a later statement announced the suspension.

"Based on...video evidence as seen and reviewed by match adjudicator and referee Farokh Engineer, a decision has been reached to suspend with immediate effect Harbhajan Singh of the Mumbai Indians pending an inquiry into the incident on Monday," said IPL commissioner Lalit Modi.

FINAL VERDICT