Video footage in Monday's crucial disciplinary hearing is certain to go against Harbhajan Singh, who allegedly punched S Sreesanth, with IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi on Sunday disclosing that the camera did "pick up something".
"Yes, cameras were rolling. We have this thing of camera rolling out for 10 minutes even after the match. Yes, it did pick up something," Modi told NDTV.
Harbhajan continues to be in the headlines for all the wrong reasons and last time he featured in the Sydney racism row that involved Andrew Symonds, the BCCI had to employ all its energy to save him.
Modi, however, did not find the slapping row involving the volatile spinner an embarrassment for the Board. Not ready to equate both incidents, Modi said, "I think you can't muddle both things. There it was one player against another. Here Harbhajan is not saying he has not done anything. He's saying he has been provoked.
"See, even (Manchester duo Wayne) Rooney and (Cristian) Ronaldo had difference when they played for their respective countries," he argued. Modi even went on to derive something positive out of the slapping row.
{{/usCountry}}"See, even (Manchester duo Wayne) Rooney and (Cristian) Ronaldo had difference when they played for their respective countries," he argued. Modi even went on to derive something positive out of the slapping row.
{{/usCountry}}"It's important to understand that here (at IPL), players play for the team not just for the sake of it. It just goes to show that they take it to heart and want to win.
"However, they have pledged the MCC Spirit of Cricket and you can't assault another player. You just can't cross the line," he added.