“Shame On You,” Sreesanth’s Wife Rips $570 Million Man Lalit Modi and Michael Clarke For Releasing Harbhajan Singh Slap Video

The 'slapgate' clip reveal that Mahela Jayawardene and Irfan Pathan stepped in to de-escalate the situation between Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth.

“Shame On You,” Sreesanth’s Wife Rips $570 Million Man Lalit Modi and Michael Clarke For Releasing Harbhajan Singh Slap Video

Sreesanth's wife Bhuvneshwar slammed Lalit Modi and Michael Clarke for releasing the 'Slapgate' video. (via New Indian Express)

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Ex-India pacer Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvneshwari, criticized Lalit Modi and Michael Clarke for releasing the video of the infamous 2008 IPL ‘slapgate’ controversy, involving her husband and Harbhajan Singh. Modi, in his recent appearance on Clarke’s Beyond 23 Cricket podcast, shared the long-hidden video. 

Ex-IPL chairman Lalit Modi, on a podcast with former Australian captain and 2015 World Cup-winning star, released the unseen clip of an incident that occurred during the 2008 IPL season, of Harbhajan Singh slapping Sreesanth on his face. Clarke questioned Modi about whether it was true that Singh had slapped the former pacer, with no pictures or videos of the incident having ever been revealed by the BCCI.

Lalit Modi ascertained that the incident had in fact taken place, while exclaiming that it was captured by one of the stadium’s security cameras. The newly-released clip, revealed details of the incident. During the post-match customary handshakes after the match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab, Harbhajan Singh, the then-MI captain, irate at his side’s heavy 67-run defeat, slapped Sreesanth with the back of his hand as he approached him.

Immediately after being hit, the Kerala pacer broke down in tears, before attempting to retaliate back, until Mahela Jayawardene held him back. The MI captain’s actions had reportedly stemmed from Sreesanth’s aggressive send-offs to MI batters, during the match. While the clip has created a frenzy on social media, Modi’s decision to release it has drawn heavy criticism, most notably from Bhuvneshwari Sreesanth.

Bhuvneshwari furiously labeled Modi and Clarke’s actions as ‘disgusting, heartless, and inhumane’, on social media. She sharply accused them for reopening ‘old wounds’ by talking about the incident that occurred back in 2008, in order to gain public engagement. She pointed out that both her husband and Harbhajan Singh have long moved past the painful incident and now share a cordial relationship. She wrote on IG stories:

Both Sreesanth and Harbhajan [Singh] 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 inhumane.

She further stated that her family has been forced to relive the trauma that they had experienced almost a decade ago. Bhuvneshwari Sreesanth exclaimed fearing that her children will now have to face public scrutiny and shame for the incident, and also pointed to Lalit Modi and Michael Clarke’s attempt to dehumanize the 42-year-old former Indian fast bowler, who has now retired from all forms of cricket.

Harbhajan Singh did apologize to Sreesanth several times after the incident, and even in an interview with R Ashwin last month, wished he would have removed it from his career. The two players later went on to play together for India, and were both part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad.

Harsha Bhogle Explains Why Harbhajan Singh-Sreesanth ‘Slapgate’ Clip Remained Hidden

Indian cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle explained why the Harbhajan Singh-Sreesanth ‘Slapgate’ video remained hidden, despite being one of the most talked about controversies in the IPL. The long-hidden video was most recently released by former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi. 

Harsha Bhogle on Sreesanth-Harbhajan Singh slap video
Harsha Bhogle revealed why the Sreesanth-Harbhajan Singh ‘Slapgate’ video was not made public. (via Mint)

Bhogle explained why the clip was not made public at the time and remained hidden for 18 years, while reacting to its recent release on social media. He stated that very few people, including himself, had seen the footage.

Harsha Bhogle added that all of them had agreed to keep the video out of the public domain in order to protect both the players and the IPL from negative publicity during its inaugural season.

The revival of the video has drawn a lot of criticism, with many noting Lalit Modi’s attempt to tarnish the image of the two players, as well as the world’s richest T20 league. Bhogle’s revelation suggests that the decision to hide the video was for good, as its recent release has reopened old wounds.

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