Overview:
He has expressed regret on several occasions, while Sreesanth has also moved on. Over the years, they have become friends and shared good things about each other.
Robin Uthappa has slammed Michael Clarke for releasing a new IPL slapgate video involving Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth. Lalit Modi showed the clip on a podcast hosted by Clarke. It has reignited the buried controversy with Modi and Clarke facing massive flak, with many accusing them of cheap publicity. Harbhajan Singh, who was playing for the Mumbai Indians, had slapped Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) pacer S Sreesanth after the match in the IPL 2008. Bhajji was banned for 11 matches, and the spinner accepted his mistake and buried his differences with the fast bowler.
He has expressed regret on several occasions, while Sreesanth has also moved on. Over the years, they have become friends and shared good things about each other.
Uthappa is miffed with Clarke and said that what would have happened had some exposed Australian cricket’s hidden controversies.
“Slapgate happened in the IPL. What the f*** man? If we put a video of an Australian cricketer doing something offensive. There should be respect for the individuals, as everyone makes mistakes. You interviewed someone and got access to the file. Do you have a right to show it and make two people go through the whole controversy once again 20 years later?” he said on the Kim-Appa show with Jarrod Kimber.
Uthappa mentioned that mistakes shouldn’t be repeatedly highlighted. He questioned the double standards in cricket, saying that non-brown people avoid scrutiny while Indians are embarrassed again and again.
“You should have empathy for others. We all make mistakes, but that doesn’t give you the right to make it public and let people go through the emotions again. Non-brown skinned people get away with controversies. Today, we are talking about Sunny G (Sunil Gavaskar) giving his opinion on what other countries say about Indian cricket. But what about this and its implications? You can’t treat people like crap for the sake of views,” he added.