The Indian Premier League faced its first on-field controversy with allegations that Harbhajan Singh hit Sreesanth, his India team-mate and IPL rival, after Friday’s match between the Kings XI Punjab and the Mumbai Indians in Mohali.
Sources close to him said that after the match a smiling Sreesanth walked up to Harbhajan - the captain of the losing Mumbai Indians - and said “Hard luck”. “That was when Harbhajan lost his cool and hit Sreesanth under the eye,” said sources close to the fast bowler.
Source: CricInfo
Getting physical like this on a cricket field should be banned, in any which way possible. The appropriate organizations, IPL in this case, ICC overall, should take steps in ensuring that these are not translated into breakouts between teams and players. There is absolutely no place for getting physical on a field, regardless of how provoked the actions are. The individual(s) should take proper steps in reporting this to the match referee and subsequently, to the ICC/IPL. If a player gets in-between the lines or cross them, the only solution that would sufficiently discourage the others from joining the action is to “ban the first person that does it”. Ban him from International cricket permanently.
Thoughts/concerns/questions/comments?