The Hindu : Sport : Nanavati submits report

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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Nanavati submits report

Mumbai: The board-appointed Commissioner Sudhir Nanavati submitted a 14-page report on the slapping row involving Harbhajan Singh and S. Sreesanth to the BCCI on Tuesday, which will decide the fate of the India spinner in the next few days. The BCCI President, Sharad Pawar, will decide on Wednesday the date of the Disciplinary Committee meeting which will go through the report and decide the quantum of punishment for Harbhajan who has been banned from the ongoing IPL.

“The 15 days deadline given to Mr. Nanavati to submit his report is over and he has given the report. It will now be given to the Disciplinary Committee. They will take a decision,” said BCCI’s Chief Administrative Officer, Ratnakar Shetty, after accepting the report at the board’s office.

“We may decide tomorrow (Wednesday) when the committee is to meet as Mr. Pawar is in town,” he added.

Mr. Pawar heads the committee which has President-elect Shashank Manohar and Vice-President Chirayu Amin as the two other members.

No comments: Shetty

Shetty, however, refused to comment on the possible action that can be taken against Harbhajan by the three-member Disciplinary Committee based on the Nanavati probe report.

“It’s not proper for me to comment on it. It’s up to the Disciplinary Committee to decide (on the issue),” he said.

Mr. Nanavati said his task was over and it was up to the Disciplinary Committee to act.

“I said before that I was shocked (after seeing the video clip of the incident) but it made my task easy. That task has now been completed,” Nanavati said.

“All the statements received have been recorded (in the report). It’s up to the Disciplinary Committee to decide what to do next”, the lawyer added.

There was speculation that Harbhajan could be banned for five Tests or 10 ODIs or for a period of one year. It was also speculated that he could be downgraded from Category B to C in the players’ contract.

“I have come to submit my report to the BCCI. Whatever conclusion I intended to reach I have reached. It’s for the BCCI to take appropriate action,” said Mr. Nanavati.

Under pressure

Mr. Nanavati said that he was under some pressure when going about his job, as it was a very sensitive issue.

“I was under tension, not because of the subject but because the issue I was investigating was very sensitive. So many eyes were on me. I can’t afford to make any mistakes,” he had said on Tuesday.

“I was very cautious while drafting the report. I have written each and every word carefully and I can justify every sentence in the report,” Mr. Nanavati emphasised. — PTI

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