Harbhajan hit with five-game ban

Harbhajan Singh has been punished further for his IPL altercation © Getty Images

Buy this photo

Harbhajan Singh has been banned for five one-day internationals by the Board of Control for Cricket in India following his altercation with Sri Sreesanth.

Off-spinner Harbhajan had already been banned from competing in the rest of the Indian Premier League campaign after the incident with his international team-mate, which occurred after the Mumbai Indians’ defeat to the Kings XI Punjab last month.

The BCCI launched a separate inquiry led by commissioner Sudhir Nanavati, whose findings prompted chairman Sharad Pawar to confirm the additional punishment.

Pawar said: “The BCCI have met today. Harbhajan Singh was also invited for the meeting. We gave him the opportunity to speak.

“The copy of the report of Justice Nanavati, who filed a report on our behalf, was also shown to him. He pleaded guilty to all charges and accepted it.

“The maximum punishment for this offence was a ban for five ODIs or three Tests. So we decided to ban him for five ODIs.”

Pawar also revealed Harbhajan had been warned over his future conduct and told any further misdemeanours could end his career.

“The BCCI have also told him and any further misconduct on his part would invite a life ban,” added Pawar, who headed the three-member disciplinary panel.

Harbhajan will miss the tri-series in Bangladesh - also involving Pakistan - and the subsequent two matches in the Asia Cup.

The panel also issued a stern warning to Sreesanth.