April 27, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 20, 1429

NEW DELHI, April 26: India spinner Harbhajan Singh could face disciplinary action following reports of his slapping compa-

triot Shanthakumaran Sreesanth at an Indian Premier League (IPL) game.

Television pictures showed Sreesanth sobbing at the end of the game late on Friday after his Mohali team defeated Mumbai, which is captained by Harbhajan.

The Hindustan Times daily reported that Harbhajan had slapped the young fast bowler.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Niranjan Shah said the spinner had been asked to explain his actions.

“The BCCI condemns the behaviour of Harbhajan Singh as a contracted player of the board and he is called upon to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him and has been asked for clarification by Monday evening,” he said in a statement.

In a tour of Australia this year, the spinner was initially banned for three Tests after being found guilty of making racist remarks against all-rounder Andrew Symonds. He was subsequently let off with a fine on a lesser charge following an appeal.

“It was unacceptable what happened,” Mohali captain Yuvraj Singh told reporters after the match. “Harbhajan came back to the dressing room and apologised to Sreesanth.”

Harbhajan said the media were trying to sensationalise the issue.

“It is not such a big issue the way people are making it out to be,” he told television channels. “It is between me and Sree. What you’re showing on TV, it is between us.”—Reuters