Harbhajan banned for five one-dayers over slap

By Sanjay Rajan

MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - The Indian board banned off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for five one-day internationals on Wednesday for a slapping incident involving Shanthakumaran Sreesanth during a domestic Twenty20 league match last month.

A statement from the board said the disciplinary committee, which met on Wednesday, had decided to invoke Rule 3.2.1 of the BCCI regulations wherein the maximum punishment is 'a ban up to a maximum of five ODIs and/or three test matches'.

"The committee accordingly decided to ban Mr. Harbhajan Singh for five one-day internationals, starting today (May 14), and observed that any further instance of misconduct will invoke a life ban," the statement said.

The ban meant the 27-year-old off-spinner will miss the forthcoming tri-series in Bangladesh in June and the start of the Asia Cup in Pakistan.

The board also instructed medium-pacer Sreesanth to improve his on-field behaviour, BCCI said in a statement.

On April 28, Harbhajan was banned for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season after being found guilty of slapping by the match referee.

The three-man disciplinary committee, which included president Sharad Pawar, acted on a report submitted on Tuesday by commissioner Sudhir Nanavati after the board ordered an independent inquiry into the incident.

"A copy of the report was given to him (Harbhajan), who was heard by the committee," the statement said.