Harbhajan has enough, let BCCI be lenient on him: Engineer

New Delhi, Apr 29 (UNI) IPL match referee Farokh Engineer today pleaded leniency for Harbhajan Singh saying that BCCI should not be harsh on the off-spinner as he already received a severe punishment.

''I am sure that BCCI will realise that Harbhajan's punishment has been pretty harsh and I hope for Harbhajan that they are lenient on him. But I can't really comment what the BCCI has to do,'' Engineer told NDTV.

Engineer, who adjudicated the hearing against Harbhajan for slapping S Sreesanth and slapped on 11-match ban that will also see the spinner lose close to Rs three crore, hoped that the BCCI will not be very harsh on the 'turbonator'.

The former wicketkeeper admitted that though Sreesanth, who was let off with a warning, was ''no angel''.

''I don't think Sreesanth is an angel. He is a lovely guy and he has been warned to take it easy... Not to go beyond the mark.

Harbhajan made a big mistake there, a mistake that has never been made before. You just cannot strike another person,'' he said.

Engineer said the video evidence against off spinner was so overwhelming that the IPL board was left with no alternative but to take action against him.

''The footage was extremely incriminating. In cricket there is no body contact like football or boxing. It's something that happened in the heat of the moment and he will be regretful about this through the rest of his life,'' he added .

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