BCCI panel 'shocked' to see Bhajji-Sree slap video

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed advocate Sudhir Nanavati Commission on Tuesday began the inquiry into Harbhajan Singh's slapping of S Sreesanth after an Indian Premier League Twenty20 match between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings XI in Mohali.

After seeing the video footage Nanavati said, "I saw the tape and I was shocked."

"A player who has a BCCI contract, is getting the match fee for the whole year and then he also gets 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 both," said Nanavati.

Nanavati has reportedly summouned both the players and while Harbhajan will meet him on Friday, Sreesanth is yet to confirm a date.

He had earlier met Aleem Dar and Amish Saheba - the two umpires of the match - and recorded their statements.
Nanavati recorded match referee Farokh Engineer’s statement and will also speak to Mumbai Indians coach Lalchand Rajput, who was allegedly standing behind Harbhajan when he slapped Sreesanth after the match.

Harbhajan had slapped Sreesanth and was banned by the IPL for 11 matches.

The IPL inquiry was conducted by match referee Farokh Engineer and he found the slapping incident was completely unprovoked. Harbhajan was also fined 100 per cent of his match fee.

Soon after the verdict, BCCI’s Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty told CNN-IBN, "His (Harbhajan) troubles are not over. He has a showcause notice pending against him with the BCCI and he has to answer to the BCCI independently."

"Harbahjan is a contracted player of BCCI and code of conduct for player is applicable to him also. This is a serious incident that has come up and BCCI cannot just say that there is non official complaint and since contracted player is involved, a showcause notice has been issued in his name and will be served to him when he arrives in Mumbai. There is a disciplinary committee, which will take necessary action as per code of conduct applicable in this matter. It is very unfortunate and this type of incident should be condemned in strong words and we should not think twice in dealing with such matters," Shetty said.