Harbhajan handed 11-match ban for slap

(CNN) -- Controversial spinner Harbhajan Singh is likely to miss the rest of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament after being handed an 11-match suspension.

India Test star Harbhajan was punished after being accused of slapping opposing player Shanthakumaran Sreesanth following Kings XI Punjab's 66-run victory over the Mumbai Indians on Friday.

Young fast bowler Sreesanth, who was seen weeping on television after the incident, was let off with a warning after video evidence showed Mumbai captain Harbhajan had struck him without any provocation.

With Harbhajan's team bottom of the table and unlikely to reach the semifinals of the inaugural competition, the player's participation in the lucrative tournament is effectively over.

He was fined 100 percent of his game fee by match referee Farookh Engineer, who also fined Indians coach Lalchand Rajput 50 percent of his fee, while Sreesanth was let off with a warning for his part in the altercation.

"Rajput did not do enough to stop the incident," said Lalit Modi, the commissioner of the IPL who is also a vice-president of the BCCI. "Rajput was right behind Harbhajan when the incident took place. He didn't take any step to restrain him."

Minutes after the verdict, both Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth shook hands with each other and made it up on live television.

Engineer and Modi also appeared as the duo made a public apology.

Harbhajan pleaded guilty and expressed regret over the incident during a 45-minute hearing.

He was Mumbai's stand-in skipper in the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, and was temporarily banned ahead of Sunday's game against the Deccan Chargers.

Harbhajan, who is one of India's contracted core players, also faces separate action from the ruling BCCI.

The board has appointed Sudhir Nanavati to head up a preliminary inquiry into the incident between the two national team players and the lawyer is expected to submit his report within 15 days.

"The BCCI has taken serious note of the incident that happened between Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth at Mohali yesterday after the IPL match," board secretary Niranjan Shah said in a statement on Saturday.

"The BCCI condemns the behavior 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."

It is not the first time Harbhajan has courted controversy this year.

India's tour of Australia was almost called off after he was initially banned for three Tests for allegedly using racially abusive language towards Andrew Symonds.

Harbhajan's punishment was later reduced to a fine following an appeal and crisis talks involving world ruling body the ICC.

Meanwhile, the ICC has confirmed that controversial umpire Darrell Hair will return to international cricket in England's home series against New Zealand next month.

The Australian will officiate in the second match of the three-game series at Manchester's Old Trafford ground from May 23-27along with compatriot Simon Taufel, and with West Indian Steve Bucknor in the third Test at Nottingham from June 5-9.

Taufel and Bucknor will umpire in the first Test at Lord's starting May 15.

The ICC dropped Hair from their panel after the historic forfeited Test between England and Pakistan at the Oval in August 2006, in which the 55-year-old accused the tourists of ball tampering. E-mail to a friend

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