Sreesanth Criticizes Harbhajan Singh Over Advertisement Referencing Past Altercation
New Delhi: Nearly two decades after the notorious slap incident, former cricketer Sreesanth has publicly criticized Harbhajan Singh regarding a recent advertisement that referred to their past confrontation. Sreesanth noted that while time had lessened their tensions, commercializing the incident changed his perspective significantly.
The altercation dates back to 2008 during the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). A post-match confrontation between the two players sparked controversy, with images of Sreesanth, visibly upset, widely circulated. The incident led to disciplinary measures, including Harbhajan’s suspension for the remainder of the tournament.
In his latest comments, Sreesanth expressed that his primary concern was not the original incident, but rather its monetization. He claimed the advertisement generated significant revenue, reportedly between Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore, and mentioned that Harbhajan had requested him to promote it on social media, a request Sreesanth declined.
“I have never spoken about Bhajji in any interview. This is going to be the first time,” Sreesanth told Mathrubhumi, a Malayalam news outlet. He elaborated, “Until recently, there were no problems, but he made an ad about it once again. I told him, ‘I’ll forgive but I’ll never forget’. If someone wrongs you, you should forgive them, but never forget. If you forget, they will do the same thing again. He is the biggest example for that.”
Sreesanth further clarified the current state of their relationship, asserting that any previous reconciliation no longer exists. “I have no relationship with that person. I used to call him a brother. But in that last 1 or 2 months, he did that ad and now I have blocked him on Instagram,” he stated.
He added, “My parents have taught me to forgive but never forget. I don’t have any complaints against him, nor do I need him. May God bless him and his family. In many interviews, even with Ashwin, he talked about my daughter. People will think, ‘oh what a great person he is.’ He might be a great person. But for me, from my time playing for India to now, in my opinion, it’s all an act. That act is something Sreesanth doesn’t accept.”
The renewed public discourse highlights lingering tensions between the two players, underscoring the complexities of their past relationship.
