Former Australian Test umpire Lou Rowan today described Harbhajan Singh
as a rogue player and said the temperamental off-spinner deserves nothing less
than a life ban for slapping India teammate S Sreesanth.
"This fellow (Harbhajan) doesn't belong to the game of cricket. He has shown
he is no good. They should just get rid of him from the sport," Rowan told
'The Courier Mail'.
"I don't know what other sport would want him, though," he added
sarcastically.
Rowan, who stood in 25 Tests between 1963 and 1971, said Harbhajan comes across
as a rogue player in whatever he has seen of the Indian tweaker's on-field behaviour.
The Australian felt the 11-match ban imposed on him by the Indian Premier
League (IPL) was a light punishment and his actions deserved a stricter
sentence.
"I certainly don't think he would have been allowed to get away with what
he has been allowed to get away with in any other sport. They should just get
rid of him and move on," he said.
After being banned from the IPL, Harbhajan is now awaiting the verdict from
a separate disciplinary inquiry to be conducted by the BCCI.
The temperamental bowler has already given his reply to the Board's show cause
notice and has apologised for his conduct.
However, his penchant for landing in disciplinary trouble with alarming frequency
has not gone down too well with the Board, which backed him to the hilt during
the racism row with Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds a couple of
months ago.
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