Ex-India spinner Harbhajan Singh has slammed former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi for making the IPL slap-gate video public, involving him and Sreesanth.
Harbhajan suggested that Modi “must have been under the influence" when he decided to release the footage nearly 18 years after the incident.
Speaking on former Australian captain Michael Clarke’s Beyond23 Cricket Podcast in August this year, Modi shared the clip of slap-gate episode from IPL 2008.
In the never-seen-before footage, Harbhajan could be seen slapping Sreesanth with the back of his hand during the post-match handshakes.
Sreesanth was left in tears after the incident, being consoled by his captain and Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene. Harbhajan then once again proceeded to return towards Sreesanth, making an animated gesture before Irfan Pathan and Mahela diffused the situation.
“I didn’t understand why there was a need to make it public. Everyone thinks differently. Whatever 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," Harbhajan was quoted as saying to IANS.
The 45-year-old further stated that had he been in Modi’s position, he would have ensured such footage was never released, given the sensitivity of the matter.
“Whatever happened 18 years ago, bringing it up again in 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 they were thinking when they released the video — maybe they were under the influence or just messing around. If I were in their place, I wouldn’t have let any such video come out like that," Harbhajan added.
The BCCI and the IPL organizing committee were not pleased with the slap-gate event. Harbhajan was banned for the rest of the season, and the BCCI later banned him for five ODIs.
