Bhuvneshwari Sreesanth, wife of former Indian cricketer S. Sreesanth, has unleashed a wave of criticism against Lalit Modi, the former IPL chairman, and Michael Clarke, the former Australian captain, for their decision to release unseen footage of the infamous "slapgate" incident that occurred during the 2008 Indian Premier League (IPL). The video, which shows Harbhajan Singh slapping Sreesanth after a match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab, has resurfaced after 17 years, causing considerable distress to Sreesanth's family.
Bhuvneshwari Sreesanth has strongly condemned Modi and Clarke's actions, labeling them as "disgusting, heartless, and inhuman". She argues that dragging up this incident from 2008 is a cheap publicity stunt that disregards the emotional toll it takes on those involved. She emphasized that both Sreesanth and Harbhajan have moved on and are now fathers with school-going children and that the resurfacing of the video forces them to relive a buried trauma.
In her posts on social media, Bhuvneshwari expressed her disappointment and anger, questioning the motives behind releasing the footage after so many years. She highlighted the pain it inflicts on her family, particularly her children, who now have to face questions and shame because of an incident that occurred long before they were born. She also stated that Sreesanth has rebuilt his life with dignity and grace, and this video is a setback to that.
The "slapgate" incident occurred after Kings XI Punjab defeated Mumbai Indians in the 2008 IPL season. Sreesanth, playing for Punjab, reportedly said "hard luck" to Harbhajan, the Mumbai Indians captain, during the customary post-match handshake. This allegedly triggered Harbhajan to slap Sreesanth. The incident was a major controversy at the time, resulting in Harbhajan being suspended for the remainder of the season.
Lalit Modi revealed the unseen footage during a podcast with Michael Clarke. He claimed that the video was captured by one of his security cameras after the live broadcast had cut to commercials. Modi stated that he had kept the footage for 18 years before deciding to release it.
Bhuvneshwari has also called for accountability, suggesting that Modi and Clarke should be sued for their actions. She believes that their behavior is cheap and inhumane, and that they should fear God before hurting families and innocent children for their own gain.
Harbhajan Singh has publicly expressed regret and apologized multiple times for the "slapgate" incident. He has acknowledged that it was a mistake and that he wishes he could erase it from his career. He also shared an emotional anecdote about how the incident affected his relationship with Sreesanth's daughter, who refused to talk to him because he had hit her father.
