Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has been suspended for five one-day internationals for slapping his Indian team-mate Shanth Sreesanth during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 competition.A statement from the board said the disciplinary committee, which met on Wednesday, had decided to invoke Rule 3.2.1 of the BCCI regulations wherein the maximum punishment is "a ban up to a maximum of five ODIs and/or three test matches".
The ban means the 27-year-old off-spinner will miss the forthcoming tri-series in Bangladesh in June and the start of the Asia Cup in Pakistan.
"What I did was wrong. Sree is like my younger brother," said Harbhajan after the IPL's ban was announced on 28 April.
"I regret my actions that have hurt his feelings. I am very apologetic about the whole incident," added the spinner, who also admitted his actions were "grossly wrong".
TV cameras failed to capture the incident but paceman Santh was seen crying afterwards.
The BCCI also warned Santh, saying it would take "appropriate decision" if the fast bowler did not improve his on-field behaviour.
On April 28, Harbhajan was banned for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season after being found guilty of slapping by the match referee.
The incident occurred after the Mumbai team, captained by Harbhajan in the absence of the injured Sachin Tendulkar, lost to Sreesanth's Mohali.
Television pictures showed Sreesanth, an international team-mate of Harbhajan's, in tears after the game.
Harbhajan's international ban comes four months after he was involved in a row on the controversial tour of Australia.
He was initially banned for three tests after being found guilty of making alleged racist remarks towards Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds.
But the spinner was subsequently let off with a fine following an appeal.
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