'Big mistake on my part'

29 Apr 2008, 0044 hrs IST,Indranil Basu,TNN

NEW DELHI: Harbhajan Singh, after being banned for 11 IPL matches for slapping Sreesanth on the field after the game between Mumbai Indians and Team Mohali last Friday, admitted that what he had done on the field was a "big mistake". "I want to say that what I have done on the field wasn't right and I have been punished for it. It was a big mistake. I am thankful to the cricket board for supporting me and hope to come back strongly after serving my ban. And I also hope everyone will support me the same way as in the past," he said. But what provoked Harbhajan to take such a drastic step? "There wasn't any provocation during the match. Sreesanth has been warned by the match-referee for his behaviour in the previous matches and there is nothing beyond that. Now Harbhajan can appeal against the ban," Modi said. Harbhajan, however, has said he will not appeal. The off-spinner said, "I accept the decision of the IPL match-referee. I didn't want to complain after what I did on the field. As I have said before, it was a big mistake on my part to lose my cool." When asked what Harbhajan wrote in his reply to the show cause notice, Modi said, "He has pleaded guilty." But sources in the IPL said that the temperamental cricketer did not have any other option. Sources also said that when the hearing started, Engineer told Harbhajan, "How could such incidents happen on the field? A player should avoid situations that could spoil his image."