Agencies

New Delhi, May 14: The Indian board banned off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for five One-Day Internationals on Wednesday for a slapping incident involving S Sreesanth during a Indian Premier League 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 on Wednesday (May 14), and observed that any further instance of misconduct will invoke a life ban," the statement said.

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.

BCCI decided to call Harbhajan Singh and listen to his views after going through commissioner Sudhir Nanavati's report on the slapping row. The offie met BCCI president Sharad Pawar to plead his case.

Further instance of misconduct will invoke a life ban for Harbhajan, says the BCCI.

Earlier, commissioner Sudhir Nanavati, who examined video footage of the incident, the two bowlers and witnesses, is understood to have concluded that the spinner had committed a "level 4" offence of physical assault but pointed to Singh's fervent repentance. The report, submitted in sealed cover on Tuesday, will now be considered by BCCI's disciplinary committee.

While BCCI can impose a fresh ban on the spinner, sources said that the body seemed sympathetic to the argument that Bhajji had been punished enough by way of a ban and loss of Rs 2.9 crore as match fees.

The final decision rests with BCCI chief Sharad Pawar who along with Shashank Manohar and Chirayu Amin comprise the disciplinary committee. The inquiry is understood to have noted Bhajji's expressions of repentance for his conduct after Mumbai Indians lost to Team Mohali on April 25.

With the footage clearly showing Bhajji striking Sreesanth with the back of his hand, the Nanavati report had little choice but rule the offie guilty.

But the commissioner might have left enough room for reprieving Singh in taking into account the spinner's pleas that he had deeply regretted the incident.

With Nanavati noting that Singh was "extremely repentant" - the spinner showed the commissioner photos of his camaraderie with the Kerala fast bowler - Bhajji could hope for a lucky break.

His promise to behave himself and the assurance that he was sufficiently chastened could persuade BCCI to give him another chance. Singh has been arguing that losing almost Rs 3 crore was itself a very stiff penalty.

The commissioner also probed Sreesanth's on-field conduct to assess whether there was any provocation offered. The report took into account the reports of match referee Farokh Engineer and umpire Amiesh Saheba.

While Saheba's written submission was silent on Sreesanth, Nanavati did probe the umpire on this aspect during the hearings of the commission.

While many in BCCI are shocked that Singh has persisted in being a "repeat offender", the current 11-match ban in Twenty20 matches does add up to the 10 ODIs or five Test suspension that a level four offence can warrant.

A severe offence can even invite a life ban. But the spinner also has the powerful figure of master bat Sachin Tendulkar weighing in for him. The star is heard carefully by BCCI.

Nanavati submitted the 14-page report on the slapping row and Pawar will decide on Wednesday the date of the disciplinary committee meeting to consider the findings and decide the quantum of punishment.

"The 15-day deadline given to Nanavati is over. It will now be given to the disciplinary committee. They will take a decision," BCCI's chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty said.

Shetty refused to comment on the possible action that could be taken against Bhajji. "It's not proper for me to comment on it," he said. Nanavati said, "I said before that I was shocked (after seeing the video clip of the incident) but it made my task easy. That task has now been completed."