Former India cricketer S. Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvneshwari Kumari, has slammed IPL founder and former chairman Lalit Modi, as well as ex-Australia captain Michael Clarke. She reacted after the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast on Friday, August 29th, showed the uncut video of the notorious slapgate incident involving Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth.
The incident happened after a Punjab Kings vs. Mumbai Indians game in Mohali during the 2008 IPL’s first season. After the match, Harbhajan smacked the former seamer while the two teams were shaking hands. After the previously unreleased video of the 17-year-old event reappeared, Bhuvneshwari blasted Modi and Clarke for reopening old wounds.
She posted a story on Instagram criticizing the pair, writing:
“Shame on you @lalitkmodi and @michaelclarkeofficial. You people are not even human to drag up something from 2008 just for your own cheap publicity and views. Both @sreesanthnair36 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.”
Harbhajan Singh was banned for the rest of the season following the incident. The former off-spinner has now issued multiple public apologies for the regrettable incident.
S. Sreesanth’s wife Bhuvneshwari Kumari breaks silence on resurfaced slapping controversy
In a separate Instagram post, Bhuvneshwari Kumari stated that Lalit Modi and Michael Clarke should be sued for their acts, and that the revived incident has caused sorrow to her family. She wrote:
“@sreesanthnair36 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.”
The Kerala pacer took 169 wickets in 90 games across all forms while playing for India. Additionally, he was a member of the Indian teams that won the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2007 T20 World Cup.
