Harbhajan suspended after 'slap'

Harbhajan tried to play down the incident following the game

India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been suspended pending an inquiry into claims he slapped an opposition player during an Indian Premier League game.

Harbhajan was captaining Mumbai Indians when he allegedly slapped Kings XI Punjab and India paceman Sree Santh.

TV pictures showed Santh crying at the end of the game, which his side won.

Harbhajan misses his team's next game against Deccan Chargers on Sunday and India's board of control will hold an inquiry into the incident on Monday.

"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," board secretary Niranjan Shah said.

BBC reporter Rahul Tandon said: "This is now going to be a big issue for those who are running the IPL to deal with.

"The Punjab side, coach Tom Moody and captain Yuvraj Singh - who is very good friends with Harbhajan - may well make an official complaint about his behaviour.

"It's the only story in town and it's going to develop. This story is going to dominate the news for the next couple of days.

"I would think the IPL will have to come down very strongly on this."

Yuvraj described the incident as "unacceptable" but revealed Harbhajan had visited their dressing room after the game to apologise to Santh. All three are team-mates in India's national side.

Harbhajan, in a TV interview, insisted the matter was not serious.

"It is not such a big issue the way people are making it out to be. It is between me and Sree," he commented.

Harbhajan is leading the Mumbai team because Sachin Tendulkar, who celebrated his 35th birthday on Thursday, is struggling with a groin injury, but they have lost all three IPL matches so far.