Sreesanth’s wife slammed Lalit Modi and Michael Clarke |Courtesy -screengab (Youtube)/ Instagram
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Sreesanth’s wife slammed Lalit Modi, Michael Clarke
- The IPL founder and ex-Australian captain released the never-before-seen footage
- Harbhajan was banned in the 2008 IPL for slapping Sreesanth
Michael Clarke and Lalit Modi’s actions were questioned by Sreesanth’s wife after the Australian World Cup-winning captain and the founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) brought the infamous ‘slapgate’ controversy involving Harbhajan Singh to the mainstream during a podcast.
For those unversed, the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008 saw a major controversy during a match between Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians at the Punjab Cricket Assocation (PCA) Stadium in Mohali. In post-match visuals that left many suprised, Sreesanth was spotted crying minutes after his team, Punjab’s victory. Later, it emerged that Mumbai’s stand-in skipper Harbhajan had slapped him, which led to the veteran Indian cricketer being banned for 11 matches, meaning he missed the rest of the season.
While both Sreesanth and Harbhajan have publicly spoken about the incident and claimed they have patched up and now share a good relationship. However, Modi released the video of the incident after 17 years during an interaction with Clarke on the Beyond23 Podcast. It is worth noting that Modi was the chairperson of the league at that time.
Sreesanth’s Wife Slams Michael Clarke, Lalit Modi
After the clip went viral on social media, after was protected from public viewing for nearly two decades, Sreesanth’s wife Bhuvneshwari slammed Clarke and Modi and claimed that both players have moved on from the incident. She claimed that both individuals should be sued for the act.
“Shame on you Lalit Modi and Michael Clarke. You people are not even human to drag up something from 2008 just for your own cheap publicity and views. Both Sreesanth and Harbhajan have long moved on, they are fathers now with school-going children, and yet you try to throw them back into an old wound. Absolutely disgusting, heartless, and inhuman.
Sreesanth has rebuilt his life with dignity and grace after every hardship he faced. As his wife, and as the mother of his children, it is deeply painful for our family to see this resurface after 18 long years. Families are being forced to relive trauma that was buried decades ago only so you can chase views. This doesn’t just hurt the players, it scars their innocent children who now have to face questions and shame for no fault of theirs.
You should be sued for doing something so cheap and inhumane. Sreesanth is a man of strength and character, and no video can take that dignity away from him. Fear God before you hurt families and innocent children for your own gain.,” Bhuvneshwari wrote on Instagram as well in the comments section on YouTube.
Harbhajan Singh’s Big Regret
Recently, Harbhajan had spoken about the incident and claimed Sreesanth’s daughter refused to talk to him because of his act.
“One thing I’d want to change in my life is that incident with Sreesanth. I want to remove that incident from my career. That is the incident I would change from my list. What transpired was wrong and I shouldn’t have done what I did. I apologised 200 times.
“What I felt so bad was even years after that incident, I have been apologising every opportunity or stage I get. It was a mistake. We all make mistakes and we hope and try to never repeat such mistakes. He was my teammate and we were playing together. Yes, in that game we were opponents. But it shouldn’t have gone to that level where we behave in such a manner. So yeah, that was my fault and the only fault of his was that he provoked me, but that’s okay actually. However, what I did was not okay. I said, ‘Sorry’,” said Harbhajan Singh in an interaction with Ravichandran Ashwin on his Youtube channel on the ‘Kutti Stories with Ash’ show.
“What hurt me even after many years was when I met his daughter and I was talking to her with a lot of love and she said, ‘I don’t want to talk to you. You hit my father.’ My heart was shattered and I was on the verge of tears. I was asking myself what is the impression I’ve left on her? She must be thinking of me in a poor light, right? She sees me as the guy who hit her father. I felt so bad. I still apologise to his daughter that I can’t do anything.
“I keep telling her, ‘but if there’s anything I can do to make you feel better and make you think I’m not that kind of person, please tell me’. I wish when she grows up, she doesn’t see me in the same light. And think her uncle will always be with her and extend any kind of support he can. That’s why I want to remove that chapter,” Harbhajan added.