- Sreesanth claims Harbhajan profited from slap controversy ad.
- He stated he forgives but will not forget incident.
- Sreesanth blocked Harbhajan on Instagram; says no relationship exists.
Harbhajan-Sreesanth Slap Row: The long-standing controversy involving former India cricketers S. Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh has resurfaced, years after the infamous on-field altercation during the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. The incident, which took place after a clash between Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and Mumbai Indians, remains one of the most talked-about moments in tournament history. Although it appeared over time that the two had moved past their differences, recent remarks suggest tensions have seemingly escalated once again.
Sreesanth Makes Fresh Claims
Sreesanth, quoted by Malayalam news outlet, Mathrubhumi, has claimed that Harbhajan Singh profited significantly from revisiting the controversial episode in a commercial.
“Until recently, there were no problems, but he made an ad about it once again. He made around Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore off it. He then called me and asked me to post a story about it. 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 of that. There is no doubt about it.”
Sreesanth further stated that the incident has completely changed how he views his former teammate, making it clear that he no longer maintains any connection with him.
“I have no relationship with that person. I used to call him a brother. But in the last one or two months he did that ad, and now I have blocked him on Instagram,”
Revisiting The 2008 IPL Slap Incident
The controversy dates back to a post-match moment when Sreesanth was seen in tears following an exchange with Harbhajan Singh. Sreesanth revealed in an interview that he had said “Hard-luck, Bhajji Pa” in a slightly sarcastic tone after Mumbai lost the match, which apparently led to the altercation.
Footage of the incident only surfaced much later. Following an investigation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) found Harbhajan guilty of misconduct and imposed a ban for the remainder of that IPL season.
Even after nearly two decades, the episode continues to cast a shadow, with recent developments suggesting that the relationship between the two former cricketers has deteriorated once again.
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