Ahmedabad based lawyer Sudhir Nanavati, who was appointed by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to investigate the case of Harbhajan Singh-Sridhar Sreesanth slapgate issue has submitted his report today to cricket board’s disciplinary committee organised by BCCI under the leadership of BCCI’s Chief Administrative Ratnakar Shetty in Mumbai.
Nanavati, who was investigating this case since last fortnight after being appointed as an enquiry commissioner on Tuesday has submitted his report within the time frame limit of maximum 15-days to Ratnakar Shetty, who have informed the media to forward this report to BCCI Chief Sharad Pawar soon.
After submitting his report to Shetty, Nanavati told to media that he is not in the favour of more punishment to Harbhajan Singh, who is already getting the harsh punishment. However, ‘it is the BCCI, which would take the final decision in this matter,’ said Nanavati.
“Harbhajan Singh had slapped Sreesanth unintentionally. It was not pre-meditated, as I found in my investigation,” said Nanavati by adding, ‘for his mistake, Harbhajan has already apologised and facing the 11 match ban’ implemented by Indian Premier League.
Harbhajan Singh would also loss Rs. 30-million as the match fee due to this ban. Mumbai Indians for which Harbhajan Singh was playing had bought him in Rs.3.4-crore.
On responding over the report, Rantakar Shetty, said that BCCI Chief Sharad Pawar would examine the report and later a three-member disciplinary committee comprised by Sharad Pawar, BCCI present-elect Shashank Manohar and Vice President Chirayu Amin would review it and decide the fate of Harbhajan Singh.
In the 14-page report including 10 page of annexure, Nanavati has recorded the statement of Harbhajan, Sreesanth, Match Referee Farokh Engineer and the two on-field umpires - Aleem Dar of Pakistan and India's Amiesh Saheba and found Harbhajan Singh guilty of the Level IV offence.
“This is a level four offence and if a player is found guilty the quantum of sentence is ban on playing large number of matches or even for life time,” said Nanavati but refuses to reveal further about his report.
Amish Saheba had also been suspended for a match for speaking to the media without the board’s permission that is against the rule in this type of condition.
On the question of pressure over him for preparing the report, the eminent advocate said, “I was in tremendous pressure and was shocked to see the footage of the slapgate….I know the eyes of the people are on me and I’ve tried to make judgement about my every sentences”.
Earlier, on April 25 in Mohali, Harbhajan Singh as the standing captain of Mumbai Indians had slapped Sreesanth, of Kings XI Punjab after the match, who allegedly provoked Harbhajan Singh during the match and had taken three important wickets that became the main reason of Punjab’s victory.
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