Harbhajan denies skipping Padma awards for ad shoot

Rubbishing allegations that he skipped the Padma awards ceremony to shoot a commercial, Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said if this "charge" is proved he would quit cricket.

"The allegation that I was in New Delhi or was shooting for an advertisement instead of attending the Padma award ceremony is completely false," Harbhajan, who has been honoured with the Padmashri, said here on Wednesday.

"If anyone says that I was in Delhi and proves it, I will stop playing cricket," the offie said.

Indian captain MS Dhoni and Harbhajan are currently under fire as both skipped the Padma awards ceremony in the national capital on Tuesday.

"Anyone would like to be present and receive the award. Obviously, I felt bad for not being there. I had conveyed the same to the authorities," he said.

Harbhajan, who was here to launch his blog www.bhajji.bigadda.com, attributed his absence at the prestigious official ceremony to "family compulsion"

"People should understand the kind of sacrifice we make for our family and vice versa. It is our responsibility to spend some time with them."

Speaking in the national capital earlier in the day, he said, "there were a few family commitments, some serious things... that is why I could not go."