BCCI chief Sharad Pawar warned Indian players on Saturday, stating the Board will act tough against any act of indiscipline and will not be a mute spectator if anyone violates the code of conduct.

“My message to Indian players who have got contractual obligations with the Board is that they have to honour each and every guideline about discipline which the Board has communicated to them, and they have accepted and signed,” Pawar said.

The BCCI president was speaking after Harbhajan Singh was temporarily suspended from the Indian Premier League for allegedly slapping S Sreesanth. “If somebody is going to violate them, the Board will not sit as a silent spectator,” Pawar said.

He said if there is any evidence of wrongdoing, swift action would be taken.

“If there is prima facie evidence, (IPL Commissioner Lalit) Modi should take action right now and they should give opportunity to both sides to present their arguments on the matter and take a final view.

“I told BCCI secretary to give notice to him (Harbhajan) and give him a specific time and opportunity and take a final decision,” Pawar said. “The IPL committee, I hope, will take a separate decision.”

BCCI’s chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty asserted that the BCCI “meant business” in this matter.
“We want to tell our players that discipline is equally important and not only their cricketing talent,” Shetty  said.
“This has never happened in Indian cricket — somebody physically assaulting another player.

“It is an extremely serious matter and we are dealing with it very seriously,” he added.

KCA demands action
Meanwhile, terming the slapping incident as unfortunate, the Kerala Cricket Association said Harbhajan should be punished.

Condemning the incident strongly, KCA Secretary T C Mathew said in a statement: ''This is a serious matter and such misconduct should not be tolerated.”