Bhajji's woes set to double with BCCI ban

Bhajji's woes set to double with BCCI ban

Bad news just got worse for Harbhajan Singh. The man who has to decide on whether or not to punish him beyond his 11-match IPL ban said that he was shocked after watching the footage. CNN-IBN reports how the off-spinner is all but certain to face time away from the India dressing room as well.

"What I saw was shocking but it has made my job easier. It will also help me in my further investigation," Sudhir Nanavati, the BCCI lawyer appointed to investigate the 'slapgate', said on Tuesday.

When he shook hands with Sreesanth and accepted his 11-match ban from the IPL, Harbhajan Singh would have hoped that his troubles were over. Not quite. Sudhir Nanavati saw the incriminating footage and seems to have made up his mind.

"A player who has a BCCI contract, is getting the match fee for the whole year and also getting paid for the IPL for a particular period in the year. So, if he is getting paid by both the IPL and the BCCI, then he should also be punished by the both," said Nanavati.

Harbhajan will have the chance to tell Nanavati his side of the story on Friday. But his goose appears to be cooked and another ban seems inevitable. Strong voices in the BCCI had spoken out with unusual candour against Harbhajan repeatedly breaking discipline.

"It's not the first time it has happened. There is a history involving Harbhajan Singh's behaviour, and a strong message has to be sent to the players that the BCCI is not just turning a blind eye," says Prof Ratnakar Shetty, BCCI's Chief Administrative Officer.

But there are some who believe that Harbhajan should be spared and missing the IPL is punishment enough. In fact, his two captains have backed Harbhajan too.

Test skipper Anil Kumble said recently, "Harbhajan has a proven track record as a match- winner. It's very important for the Indian team that he comes back and performs."

And One-day and Twenty20 skipper MS Dhoni had said, "Before issuing any punishment, I hope the authorities check the actual sequence of events rather than just what the footage shows."

According to BCCI sources, Harbhajan Singh once again faces a Level IV charge. And if proven guilty, he could be banned for upto 10 matches to a year, or as a letter of the law says, a possible life ban, which seems highly unlikely. One thing is for sure though, that Harbhajan Singh's problems have only just begun.

Source: http://www.cricketnext.com/news/bhajjis-woes-set-to-double-with-bcci-ban/31371-13.html