NEW DELHI, July 18: Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Saturday clarified the Punjab government�s decision to withdraw his nomination for this year�s Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award as he doesn�t fit in the eligibility criteria for country�s highest sporting honour.
�I have been flooded with calls as to why Punjab Govt withdrew my name from Khel Ratna nominations. The truth is I am not eligible for Khel Ratna which primarily considers the international performances in last three years,� the 40-year-old cricketer tweeted.
�The Punjab Govt is not at fault here as they have rightly withdrawn my name. Would urge my friends in media not to speculate.�
Harbhajan, who has 417 Test and 269 ODI wickets is an Arjuna Awardee and was also conferred with Padma Shri.
Harbhajan last represented India in Test and ODIs in 2015. � PTI
