One of the ex-Indian cricketers, Harbhajan Singh was enraged about the so-called slapgate video that was published on a Beyond23 Cricket podcast led by Michael Clarke and involving the former IPL Chairman, Lalit Modi. The video reveals how Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth in 2008 season of the IPL.
Harbhajan also condemned Modi saying that he was drunk at the time of posting the video. Looking back at the incident, the off-spinner said that he felt guilty at the moment but he has learned out of his mistakes and developed out of it.
“Honestly, I didn’t understand why there was a need to make it public. I really don’t understand the motive behind that. I feel it would have been better if it hadn’t come out because there was no need for it. I don’t know what he was thinking when he released the video—maybe he was under the influence of alcohol or just messing around. If I were in their place, I wouldn’t have let any such video come out like that,” Harbhajan said as quoted by The Indian Express.
“Everyone thinks differently. What happened was wrong, and I have already apologised for it. What happened between me and Sreesanth at that time was not right. As a sportsman, I don’t think I should have done that. People learn from their mistakes, and if I had enough understanding back then, I wouldn’t have done it,” he added.
Previously, Harbhajan Singh admitted that the video was produced for selfish motives and stated that people had long forgotten what happened 18 years ago.
“The way the video has resurfaced, that’s very wrong. I believe nobody should do that. Maybe they have some selfish motive in doing that. Because something that happened 18 years ago, people have forgotten, and they are reminding people about it. So I feel bad for whatever incident that happened during that time. Because, we were playing and we were playing, and everyone had things going on in their mind. Mistakes happened, and I do feel ashamed about it,” Harbhajan told Instant Bollywood.
The release of the old footage has caused a lot of anger and disappointment among fans and the cricket community. Many feel it is unnecessary to bring up incidents from so long ago, especially when the players involved have moved on with their lives.
Families of the players have also been affected by this. Constantly revisiting old controversies can be hurtful, not just to the cricketers but also to their children and loved ones, who have no part in what happened.
Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvneshwari Sreesanth, had previously described the footage’s release as ‘fearless and inhuman’.
“Shame on you @Lalitkmodi and @Michaelclarkeofficial. You people are not even human to drag up something from 2008 just for your own publicity and views. Both @Sreesanthnair.36 and Harbhajan have long moved on, they are fathers now with children, and yet you try to throw them back into an old wound. Absolutely disgusting, heartless and inhuman,” Bhuvneshwari wrote on her official Instagram.
