Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been banned for five one-day internationals by the Board of Control for Cricket in India after he slapped Sree Santh.

He is banned with immediate effect and warned that "any further instance of misconduct will invoke a life ban".

Singh, 27, admitted his guilt over the incident with his India team-mate, which occurred in a domestic Twenty20 league match in April.

He is already banned from the rest of the Indian Premier League campaign.

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As the player is centrally-contracted, the BCCI launched a separate inquiry led by commissioner Sudhir Nanavati.

His findings prompted chairman Sharad Pawar to confirm the additional punishment, with a board statement declaring the disciplinary committee had invoked the maximum punishment: 'a ban up to a maximum of five ODIs and/or three Test matches'.

"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.

Harbhajan will now miss the June triangular series in Bangladesh against the host nation and Pakistan, along with the Asia Cup later on in the month.

He faced controversy in January over allegations that he called Australia's Andrew Symonds a monkey during the second Test in Sydney.

The off-spinner was eventually cleared of the charge of racial abuse but found guilty of using abusive language.

(BBC)

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