Harbajan slaps Sreeshanth.

Nobody thought that in Iplt20 cricket match between Mohali and Mumbai team a new episode bursts out. Harbajan slaps Sreeshant who came over to him to shake hands with him. By this incident Harbajan comes out with his true colours. His past acts now comes into front. The support that he got when he had a row with Symonds was tremendous. But the same people now will start thinking this chap might have been really guilty at the time.

Now Harbajan is in real trouble if the matter is taken seriously. And why not? The matter should be taken seriously and he should be slapped with ban for the slap he delivered on Sreeshant.

Slap for slap.

There are chances that his past acts now gets opened. May be one more enquiry into his past conducts could be taken up.

Some say that this is done in order to get media attention. And Sreeshant on his part says that he became emotional on his team winning. But viewing his weeping on television channels it goes a long way to show that he really was very badly hurt for the incidents that had taken place. It is difficult to say whether we call Sreeshanth a gentlemen for taking the incidents lightly or to say that he is a coward person. Each person may take it in his own way.

One thing is certain, Harbajan acted like a fool and he has to be punished and that punishment should be as per the ICC Code of conduct.

That would bring good name to IPL organisers or else it could be teased saying that it has no powers on the behavious of players.

And then we could see more of these things happening.

Latest --- BCCI has sent a notice to Harbajan singh, he has to reply to it by Monday i.e., by 28-4-2008.

His reply could be on these lines....

I did not slap Sreeshanth, I only pushed him. I wanted to go to my dressing room quickly to weep with my other team mates since we lost the match for the 3rd time.

BCCI may question him, "then why did you apologise to Sreeshant if you did not slap him?"

"I did not apologise to anybody. Sreeshanth is like my younger brother." nothing happened between us." he would say, or he would say, "I went to apologise to him since I pushed him when he came to congratulate me."

Harbhajan temporarily suspended from IPL

New Delhi (PTI):

Harbhajan Singh, who did the wrong thing at the wrong place is temporarily suspended from the tournament pending inquiry.

Based on prima facie video evidence as seen and reviewed by the match adjudicator and referee Mr Farokh Engineer from the tapes provided by Sony & TWI, a decision has been reached to suspend with immediate effect. This video unfortunately is not shown to the public. It would be better enough if it is shown to the public also.

"The inquiry into the incident at Mohali in the game between Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians will now take place at the Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi on April 28th 2008. A final verdict would be announced by the adjudicator Farokh Engineer.

PREITY THE PROMOTER OF MOHALI TEAM ASKS MEDIA AND OTHER TO SUPPORT HER

Some people in some quarter have criticized Preity for having complained against Harbajan.

Preity says seeing injustice if not complained it is equal to committing sin.

I do support her.

Mumbai team backs Harbajan. They are supporting him and are behind him. But there is good things that they failed to see. Harbajan is a failure as a captain. After his ban for today's match (27-04-08) now either Jayasurya or Pollock are being considered for captaincy.

FINALLY THE VERDICT

Harbajan banned to play in all the IPL matches, 11 matches atleast. BCCI is still to take action on him and that is further punishment awaiting.

Rightly Harbajan decides not to appeal. A right verdict for a great sport to save the integrity of sport and set an example to other sport. It gives deterrent to other players not to indulge in such activities.

Video evidence that's placed before BCCI-appointed commissioner Sudhir Nanavati shockingly shows the Mumbai Indian coach Lalchand Rajput applauding the slap. This has prompted Engineer to fine him 50% of the match fee.

Bhajji has now become the Bad boy of Indian cricket

Sources in BCCI said Nanavati, an Ahmedabad-based lawyer who was in Mumbai on Tuesday to conduct the probe, was shown the video of the ugly incident which took place after a match between Mumbai Indians and Team Mohali on April 25.

"What I saw was shocking but it has made my job easier. It will also help me in my further investigation," Nanavati told reporters in Mumbai.

Nanavati is understood to have told those present at the screening that the attack on Sreesanth seemed to have been pre-meditated by Harbhajan and, from after seeing Rajput clapping, he now doubts whether the slapping was pre-planned.

Nanavati now is likely to question Rajput. Nanavati, who is expected to submit his report to BCCI president Sharad Pawar on Monday, has already spoken to umpire Amish Saheba, who was suspended for a match after criticising Sreesanth's behaviour. Harbhajan and Sree Santh have been asked to appear before Nanavati today i.e., 9th May 2008.

Despite Harbhajan Singh sending a mercy petition to BCCI over the slapping incident, he is likely to face further action. On Wednesday, BCCI president Sharad Pawar said, "We'll only follow the procedure. The disciplinary committee will meet after we get the Nanavati commission report. Till then, we are not in the position to comment on the nature of the disciplinary action."

Sources said top BCCI officials were angry with Harbhajan's conduct on the field and eager to mete out punishment. "He will be punished for sure for assaulting a fellow cricketer. We are also going to look at Sreesanth's case," a top BCCI official said.

A senior Indian player said, "Whatever happened on the field that day was really sad. But from now on we will make sure that these two cricketers (Harbhajan and Sreesanth) do not get to affect the atmosphere in the dressing room. After all, we play for India and right now, we are doing well in world cricket and an incident like this should not spoil our dressing room ambience."

Meanwhile, BCCI-appointed commissioner Sudhir Nanavati said he would view the recording of the match before the slapping incident took place to establish what may have provoked Harbhajan. "I want to find out (about the provocation) only for the purpose of seeing whether it was a reaction as far as Harbhajan is concerned," Nanavati said.

"So far the documents I have received do not indicate (that there was provocation). I might have to see the whole recording of the cricket match," he told a TV channel, adding: "I might have to discuss with some other players and officials like Yuvraj (Team Mohali skipper), Lalchand Rajput (Mumbai coach) or even team managers because the umpire's statement that I have recorded does not indicate that (provocation)," he said.