No punishment for Harbhajan,Gambhir

The Indian and Pakistani cricketers,who were involved in on-field spats during the high-voltage Asia Cup encounter on Saturday,were let off the hook by ICC Match Referee Andy Pycroft....

The Indian and Pakistani cricketers,who were involved in on-field spats during the high-voltage Asia Cup encounter on Saturday,were let off the hook by ICC Match Referee Andy Pycroft.

Harbhajan had a scrap with Akhtar during the dying moments of the match,while Gambhir confronted Pakistani wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal earlier.

Pycroft,after the game,informally called on the four players besides Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi and the two team managers and gave a pep talk.

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The ICC match referee had a chat with the players but decided not to charge them as he felt it was a heat of the moment incident, said Indian team manager Ranjib Biswal.

According to Indian team sources,the first incident was a result of some constant chirping by Kamran from behind the wickets. Gambhir reacted only after the keeper appealed for a catch.

Akmal reportedly retorted by asking the batsman to mind his own business. Umpires Billy Bowden and Billy Doctrove quickly diffused the situation,as skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni pulled Gambhir away. The duo squared off once again after Gambhir overheard a comment by Kamran,but Bowden intervened in time to resolve the issue.

Hit back

Shoaib Akhtar,meanwhile,reportedly used expletives against Harbhajan,after the latter had hit the Pakistan pacer for a six. After he hit the winning runs,a charged-up Harbhajan took off his helmet and roared in celebration,turning towards Shoaib. Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi also played down the incident.

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They are friends with each other and love each other. I think that brought them so close, Afridi quipped. Incidentally,both Harbhajan and Shoaib had a friendly chat after the game,suggesting that all was well between them.

Added Dhoni: If you ask me if it (sledging) happened or not,I would say lets leave it. India-Pakistan games are always intense with both wanting to win and so there is bound to be some spark in the middle.