Harbhajan certain to get punishment'

Despite Harbhajan Singh sending a mercy petition to BCCI over the slapping incident, he is likely to face further action. On Wednesday, BCCI president Sharad Pawar told TOI , "We'll only follow the procedure. The disciplinary committee will meet after we get the Nanavati commission report. Till then, we are not in the position to comment on the nature of the disciplinary action." Sources said top BCCI officials were angry with Harbhajan's conduct on the field and eager to mete out punishment. "He will be punished for sure for assaulting a fellow cricketer. We are also going to look at Sreesanth's case," a top BCCI official said. A senior Indian player said, "Whatever happened on the field that day was really sad. But from now on we will make sure that these two cricketers (Harbhajan and Sreesanth) do not get to affect the atmosphere in the dressing room. After all, we play for India and right now, we are doing well in world cricket and an incident like this should not spoil our dressing room ambience." Meanwhile, BCCI-appointed commissioner Sudhir Nanavati said he would view the recording of the match before the slapping incident took place to establish what may have provoked Harbhajan. "I want to find out (about the provocation) only for the purpose of seeing whether it was a reaction as far as Harbhajan is concerned," Nanavati said. "So far the documents I have received do not indicate (that there was provocation). I might have to see the whole recording of the cricket match," he told a TV channel, adding: "I might have to discuss with some other players and officials like Yuvraj (Team Mohali skipper), Lalchand Rajput (Mumbai coach) or even team managers because the umpire's statement that I have recorded does not indicate that (provocation)," he said. Nanavati has summoned Harbhajan and Sreesanth to Ahmedabad this weekend and he will submit his final report to Pawar on Monday.