Harbhajan can now only watch IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) today came down heavily on star spinner Harbhajan Singh, banning him from the remaining matches of the Twenty20 tournament this season after video footage proved he was guilty of slapping Sreesanth without provocation last Friday.

Harbhajan will lose 100 per cent of his fee for the 11 or 13 matches (if the side makes it to the semi-final and final) that his team will go on to play in the tournament. He stands to lose Rs 3 crore.

The slapping incident occurred after the Mumbai Indians, which was led by Harbhajan in the match, lost to Kings XI Punjab for whom Sreesanth plays.

Match referee Farokh Engineer, who conducted the disciplinary hearing, wrote in his report: "It is a condemnable act and against the ICC's Rule 4.2 under players' code of conduct." The report was based on a 10-minute uninterrupted feed provided by TWI, broadcasters of the tournament. Engineer watched the footage and concluded that Harbhajan had not been provoked.

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