Bhajji should have been banned for a year: Lele

29 Apr 2008, 0021 hrs IST, Saibal Bose,TNN

JAIPUR: Although many feel the 11-IPL match ban on Harbhajan Singh for slapping Sreesanth might be a little harsh, former BCCI secretary JY Lele feels the Punjab off-spinner has got off lightly. Lele, who was at the helm when Harbhajan made his Test debut, says the bowler is perhaps the most undisciplined cricketer in the world. “Even during his debut series, he fought with the board,’’ Lele told TOI on Monday. ‘‘I clearly remember how he would land up at our Mumbai office demanding reimbursement for a flight he never made.’’ Apparently Harbhajan, after making his debut against Australia in Bangalore in 1998, travelled with the Indian team to Mumbai for the next match and demanded that he be paid the air-fare for a Jalandhar-to-Mumbai trip. ‘‘As per the rules, every player was entitled to air-fare from his residence to the venue where he was expected to join the team,’’ Lele explained. ‘‘However, he wanted the equivalent of air-fare from Jalandhar to every Test venue.’’ Although Harbhajan’s demand might have been a result of ignorance, his behaviour did not go down well with the board officials. And that was not the last time that Harbhajan’s ways has ruffled feathers. ‘‘I can talk of many such instances when Harbhajan has caused trouble for the board,’’ Lele said. The former secretary feels the off-spinner should have been banned for at least one year. ‘‘It doesn’t really matter to him whether he plays in the IPL or not. "Slapping Sreesanth was a serious offense and the board should have taken a tougher step.’’ Lele even termed that incident as the saddest day in Indian cricket. ‘‘I have never heard anything like this and I don’t think I will ever in the future.’’ Harbhajan’s former team-mate Nayan Mongia, however, takes a contrasting stand. ‘‘Both the players have made up after the fight and I think even we should forget about it,’’ Mongia said. ‘‘It happened in the spur of the moment and Harbhajan is paying the penalty for that. I do think the 11-match ban is a strong enough punishment.’’ The former India wicketkeeper in fact, feels the board should have taken a lighter view. ‘‘It was a tough match and Harbhajan perhaps found his team’s third straight loss difficult to digest.’’ Mongia, however, would not compare Harbhajan with Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar. ‘‘They are two different characters and I don’t think we should talk about the two in the same breath.’’