Who's a lucky boy then?

After all the talk of discipline and exemplary punishment, the Board of Control for Cricket in India have slapped Harbhajan Singh on the wrist...with a marshmallow. A five-match ban from one-day international cricket, when India play over 40 of them a year, is about as much of a punishment as a flea-bite. Financially, it will set him back just over 12,000 pounds, a drop in the IPL ocean, and with a meaningless tri-series [in Bangladesh] and the Asia Cup scheduled in June, he won't even miss the Champions Trophy.

Whatever you might say about the IPL and how it's been run, mostly according to the whims and fancies of one man, at least they took appropriate action after Harbhajan's heavy-handed response to Sreesanth in Mohali. The BCCI appointed a lawyer and a commission of inquiry and all that they've come up with is this apology of a punishment.

Sudhir Nanavati, who investigated the footage and spoke to the players, admitted that he was horrified by what he saw on tape. Clearly, the shock threshold of BCCI officials is higher. After all, Harbhajan wasn't even warned when he called Andrew Symonds a monkey in Mumbai last October, the incident that precipitated the mess in Sydney just over two months later.

It all reminds me of something Brian Lara said in an interview back in 2006. When I asked him about allegations of indiscipline that have bedevilled West Indian sides in recent times, he said: "I don’t think you’d see an indisciplined team if you have a disciplined board. If you have a disciplined board, they would know exactly what they want from their players. You need to see the whole spiral, where it starts from. You can’t just pinpoint the players and say: You guys are indisciplined."

The Indian board would do well to reflect on that. All that money in the coffers means nothing if a loutish culture is allowed to grow unchecked.

Comments

[The Pav]

G'day Homer,

First off I do appologise about the "Monkey" At the end of a 16 hour day & visiting the site as my wind down (any time spent discussing cricket is well spent) I missed the word October. No excuse really.

I still maintain that you are an appologist for Singh. The fact thay you describe his offence as a misdemeanour ie trivialising it reveals your position.It was a very very serious offence. Of the top 10 bad things in cricket you can do I would rank it about 3rd of 4th.

If you had said to me the day before that one player would strike another out on the field I would have said you were crazy.

I used the word shameful in relation to bringing the game into disrepute. A perfectly valid way to bring the issue into context.Furthermore shame does have a role in crime & punishment.

Given the potential loss to cricket the financial loss to Singh is negligible. If he was a first or seconf time offender then OK but he has the worst, repeat worst record in the world. He deserves far more serious sanction.

In the comment about his playing I was trying to uncover your motive in being such a staunch supporter of Singh. You seem to have lost the balance you show in every other subject where although I mightn't agree ( something no doubt you endlessly worry about) & can see validity in your position & enjoy the contrary view. You make me think about things differently, give me undertsanding & quite regularly sway my opinion.

Singh seems to be your blind spot.

Maybe he is mine as well butbut quite frankly his appalling behaviour gives me more than enough reason to hold him in contempt

He is a player with great talent (wasted)but seems to be missing some vital ingredient that should be located between the ears. His career so far is one of unfullfilled promise with an occiasional big performance

[SanjayN]

He's lost an enormous amount of income and that in itself is a penalty that he will rue for a long time. The BCCI have warned him that further transgressions will result in a life ban.

I get the feeling that there is a lynch mob mentality in wanting further punishment. There's no guarantee that he will return to the team upon the ban's completion so those of you who seek blood will get your wish. However, I suspect he will play a major role in the Test series against Oz later in the year.

What we should be discussing is the Marlon Samuels episode. Only a naive fool would believe he was acting alone. Read the transcripts on how he *knew* he would bowl first-change in a forthcoming ODI. What he indulged in was pre-meditated cheating.

Also, Dileep, I think your quoting Lara is a little misplaced. He ranks as one of the worst role models but because he was an outstanding player, we tolerate his behavior. I don't see how Bhaji's value as a player on the Oz tour should have any bearing on the severity of a penalty.

[Homer]

The Pav,

"I am not surprised at Homer's defence of Harbhajan Singh.It would seem that this serial offender can be excused any sin.Why I don't know because the guy was the worst performed bowler in the last Australian tour so it's not even to preserve a good player. The only wickets he's taken were on a raging turner in the last test against SA."

First off, I have not, in any fora, made any plea for clemency for Harbhajan Singh. He was convicted of a misdemeanor , there had to be commensurate punishment - that has been my stand throughout.

As far as his not being an effective bowler, that has nothing to do with this argument, does it?

"As to the BCCI's standing in the affair. One of their contracted player struck another.

That's grounds enough let alone, I am sure, a clause in his contract with the BCCI about conduct bringing the game into disrepute. Unless of course Homer doesn't think this is a shameful event"

Shame has nothing to do with crime and punishment. There was a slap, there was a conviction. The only thing to debate about is the quantum of conviction.I think it is adequate, you may think not and we agree to disagree. I was not aware that we were discussing the morality of it all at any stage of the argument/debate.

"It is interesting that nobody has questioned you now saying that Harbhajan Singh did use the "monkey" word.

Does this mean even Homer accepts that Singh was lying? Are they going to appologise to Symonds et al whose word they doubted? Did Pollock get it right? Was Hayden's only sin that he spoke the truth?"

Interesting argument you make there Pav.. Have seen variations of it all through the winter.. Just in case you missed it, here is what Dileep had written

"After all, Harbhajan wasn't even warned when he called Andrew Symonds a monkey in Mumbai last October, "

First off, since when did last
October translate to this January?

Secondly, no one ( including Harbhajan) have denied that this happened when Australia was in India. What has been denied, vehemently at that, is that the "monkey" word was used in Sydney.

so where is the question of accepting anything or apologizing?

The only apology due is from you to me.Which I accept with grace.

Cheers

[Dileep]

Wouldn't surprise me one bit. The one thing the IPL has done, other than give fringe Indian talent like Badrinath they exposure they deserve, is to explode the myth of Australian cricket lacking depth. Contrary to wishful thinking in many parts of the world, there will be no major slump when the likes of Hayden and Ponting retire. And after the performances of Shaun Marsh and Watson here, I can foresee quite a few ING Cup stars being signed up next season. Good value too since it's Aussie off-season.

[The Pav]

Dilepp,

Off topic but certainly about a lucky boy have you heard about Mitch Marsh?

He's the younger brother of Sean, son of Geoff & about 17. The WACA have offered him a contract for the coming season. The youngest ever to get a contract. In part a defensive measure to stop him playing aussie football (AFL)- he's in the fram to get drafted (how much talent?)

AFL tends to get the first choice athletes & we've lost a huge amount of cricket talent to it. Given the money in IPL it may save a few in future.

In a colts game 50/50 he hit about 16 sixes in getting 160 odd. WACA colts is a quality u21 comp & he was about 16. Could be a longshot for the next IPL auction?

I've seen him in action ( my boy was playing)& although he only got 70 he hit the ball............miles!

[The Pav]

I am not surprised at Homer's defence of Harbhajan Singh.It would seem that this serial offender can be excused any sin.Why I don't know because the guy was the worst performed bowler in the last Australian tour so it's not even to preserve a good player. The only wickets he's taken were on a raging turner in the last test against SA.

As to the BCCI's standing in the affair. One of their contracted player struck another.

That's grounds enough let alone, I am sure, a clause in his contract with the BCCI about conduct bringing the game into disrepute. Unless of course Homer doesn't think this is a shameful event

As to the punishment fitting the crime? Well how many billions are tied up in Indian cricket? We're always being told of the wealth. Actions like Singh bring the game into disrepute. Will sponsors want to be associated with Singh? How much will that cost Indian & world cricket? Yes, Singh shouldn't be held responsible for all the carry on but the potential financial cost for not stamping it out now is incalculable. Compared to this the financial penalty is minmal
It is interesting that nobody has questioned you now saying that Harbhajan Singh did use the "monkey" word.

Does this mean even Homer accepts that Singh was lying? Are they going to appologise to Symonds et al whose word they doubted? Did Pollock get it right? Was Hayden's only sin that he spoke the truth?

[Homer]

Dan,

Not quite the mayor of a small village in Italy but will Governer of Louisiana suffice?

Cheers

[Dan Patel]

Nikhil,

I don't think that Dileep is at all 'morally obliged to have an anti Indian bias' at all.

All he is doing is stating the obvious.

That is the problem with you Indians to-day. You have brought everything down to 'racism' whereas Indian players are the most racist of all.

You live in a country where millions of you 'worship' an Italian woman whose name simply ends with the word 'GANDHI'.

Ever heard of an Indian even being being a mayor of a small village in Italy?

You must learn to call a spade a spade.

Your country's quest for 'super power' status and unbridaled wealth has reduced even the gentle game of cricket to a level that is quite frankly disgusting and crass.

[Nic]

What a joke!
Every cricketer in history knows that assault should result in a suspension measured in YEARS not days

[Pontings _baldspot]

Somehow I feel Bhajji will emerge as a martyr after this sordid issue is done with.. That would be really sad..

[Dileep]

The BCCI are backing this tournament, not organising it. And they're well within their rights to punish a contracted player. Even if the offence took place in a league match in northern England, they could still take action.
Nikhil, you might want to check what I wrote about Clarke post-Sydney. But at the end of the day, neither he not Ponting assaulted another player. Am surprised that you brush it off as 'a slap in the face', as though it's an everyday event on a cricket pitch. Eric Cantona got nine months for assaulting a spectator who deserved to be whacked. So yes, I'd say he got off very lightly.

[nikhil viswanathan]

Dileep,

I enjoy reading your articles, but do suspect that you feel morally obliged to have an anti-indian bias ! Harbhajan is no angel but the guy got punished (a 16 game ban. (11 IPL matches + 5 internationals) over 2-3 months is a serious ban !, especially for a post match slap in the face !

Everyone including Harbhajan is entitled to rehabilitation or a second chance after committing a error/crime etc !

To echo another readers comments, how balanced are you really in your comments on Harbhajan ? I did;nt see any similarly harsh comments from you after Clarke or Ponting's behaviour at the Sydney test match this year.

[Homer]

Is the tournament organized and run by the BCCI? If not, what is the BCCI's locus standi on the matter?

The tournament organizers have punished him to their satisfaction.Juxtapose this with the kid gloves treatment meted out to Sreesanth.

And, let us not forget "The BCCI's disciplinary committee, which decided this, also said a subsequent breach of discipline would "invoke a life ban.""

Not enough?

[Dileep]

The 11-match IPL ban was handed down by the tournament organisers. It had nothing to do with the BCCI. This is a case of one contracted player assaulting another, without provocation if the report is to be believed. Last I watched it, cricket was a non-contact sport, and such behaviour should be dealt with in the harshest possible manner. So, I'm sorry if my sense of balance is not happy with a trifling 5-ODI ban.

[Homer]

Huh?

11 matches in the IPL and 5 ODIs on top of that ( not to forget the 3+ crores in lost revenue and the opprobrium that followed) and you think the punishment is not commensurate to the crime ?

Where is your sense of balance?

Cheers