Star Harbhajan left out in the cold after latest controversy hits home

Punjab: Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has found himself left out in the cold in his hometown of Jalandhar this week after the Indian Premier League banned him for 11 games for slapping an opposition player during a match last Friday.

The reaction has been in contrast to the outpouring of sentiment for him in late January when he faced a ban for allegedly making a racist comment against Australian Andrew Symonds during India's Test Down Under.

The IPL has banned the spinner from playing for the Mumbai Indians after he pleaded guilty to slapping Kings XI Punjab seamer and India teammate Sreesanth.

Harbhajan's family, including mother Avtar Kaur and one of his sisters, refused to comment on the ban when approached at their home.

But the spinner's other sister Sandeep Kaur told reporters she had received news that her brother had been banned for "a few IPL matches."

"The saving grace is that the ban is only for the IPL matches and his international career will not be affected," she said.

"Whatever incident happened was unfortunate."

Neighbours said Harbhajan mostly stayed by himself during his visits to the town, but sympathy for the controversial star seems to have run out.

"The ban should do him good. I think he stretched it too far this time," said local businessman Rajbir Singh.