Ban on Bhajji will set an example: Nanavati

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AHMEDABAD: The BCCI-appointed Commissioner Sudhir Nanavati, who inquired into the slapping row, is satisfied with the decision taken by the Board's Disciplinary Committee on Harbhajan Singh and said it was quick, appropriate and would set an example.

"There are two parts to this decision. First, the decision was quick. To keep any one in tension including the culprit and people at large is not proper," Nanavati, who submitted his inquiry report on Tuesday to the BCCI, said.

"The second thing, the punishment is appropriate as it is not less not more. We should keep in mind that when the BCCI gave a show cause notice to Harbhajan on April 26, he replied the next day and accepted his fault and tendered an apology," Nanavati said.

BCCI on Wednesday banned Harbhajan for five One-Day Internationals for slapping his national teammate S Sreesanth after an IPL match.

"The quantum of sentence given to Harbhajan by the IPL management should also be kept in mind," Nanavati said, reminding that Harbhajan was banned for entire IPL series after he slapped Sreesanth.

"Harbhajan has also assured all the authorities that he would not repeat such type of behaviour in future," he said.

"Considering all facts, it seems that the BCCI has given punishment to Harbhajan to set an example," Nanavati said.

"The first question, I asked Harbhajan during his cross-examination was whether he had indulged in physical fight with Sreesanth. He immediately accepted that," Nanavati said describing his encounter with the off spinner.

During his hour-long hearing Harbhajan not only accepted his fault but also assured Nanavati that he will not repeat such mistake in the future, Nanavati said.

Speaking about Sreesanth, Nanavati said that during his 30-minute hearing, Sreesanth told him "why such an incident took place with him".

"Sreesanth further said it would be good for Harbhajan, himself and cricket at large if this issue is solved immediately", Nanavati said.

The fast bowler also pitched for spinner by saying that IPL has already given the punishment to Harbhajan, Nanavati said.

Nanavati had summoned Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth last week to Ahmedabad and conducted the hearing in presence of board secretary Niranjan Shah.

Mumbai Indians stand-in skipper Harbhajan had slapped Kings XI Punjab's pacer Sreesanth after the April 25 Indian Premier League match in Mohali, which saw the off-spinner being banned from the remainder of the IPL apart from losing nearly Rs 3 crore of match fee.

BCCI had also issued a show cause notice to Harbhajan before appointing Nanavati to probe the incident.
 
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