Singh

NEW DELHI (AP):

INDIA'S CRICKET board asked ace spinner Harbhajan Singh to explain his conduct yesterday after he allegedly slapped national teammate Shantakumaran Sreesanth during a domestic Twenty20 match.

News reports said Singh on Friday slapped Sreesanth, who was on the opposing team, at the conclusion of the match, but later apologised for losing his temper.

Press Trust of India quoted the cricket board's chief administrator Ratnakar Shetty as saying that Singh had been asked to explain his conduct by tomorrow.

"We have issued a show cause notice to Harbhajan Singh, who is a contracted player of the Indian board," Shetty said.

Sreesanth in tears

Television footage showed Sreesanth crying after the altercation on Friday

"The board's disciplinary committee will look into the issue," said Niranjan Shah, secretary of the Indian cricket board.

PTI reported yesterday that both Singh and Sreesanth sought to downplay the incident, with Singh saying that the issue had been "sorted out" and Sreesanth describing Singh as his "elder brother".

Earlier this year, Singh was at the centre of controversy during the Test series against Australia. He was initially banned for three Tests for allegedly making racist remarks against Australia allrounder Andrew Symonds, but an appeal was upheld and his punishment reduced to a fine.