Former Indian Test spinner Harbhajan Singh has denied claims he broke down in tears when issuing an apology to Australian great Andrew Symonds after the controversial 'Monkeygate' saga.
In a documentary with Fox Cricket, Symonds opened up on how his run-in with Singh sparked the beginning of the end for his international playing days and led him to destructive drinking habits.
Symonds claimed Singh called him a monkey during a heated 2008 test match at the SCG, however Singh's racism charge was never proved and his three-game ban was uplifted after the BBCI lodged an appeal.
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From antagonism, a good friendship had blossomed when the pair linked up at the Mumbai Indians in the IPL as Singh moved to make amends.
“When I first arrived, there was deafening silence in the dressing shed when I walked in. There was a pink elephant in the corner. You could feel it,” Symonds said in the Monkeygate – Ten Years On documentary.
“We (went) to a very wealthy man’s place for a barbecue, drinks and dinner one night and the whole team’s there and he had guests there, and Harbhajan said, ‘Mate, can I speak to you for a minute out in the garden out the front?’.
“He goes, ‘Look, I’ve got to say sorry to you for what I did to you in Sydney. I apologise, I hope I didn’t cause you, your family, your friends too much harm and I really apologise for what I said. I shouldn’t have said it’.
“And he actually broke down crying, and I could just see that was a huge weight off his shoulders – he had to get rid of it.
“We shook hands and I gave him a hug and said, ‘Mate, it’s all good. It’s dealt with’.”
However, Singh hit back and accused Symonds of being a liar.
''WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN ??? BROKE DOWN ???? WHAT FOR ???'' Singh tweeted.
WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN ??? BROKE DOWN ???? WHAT FOR ??? Harbhajan broke down when apologising for 'monkeygate' - Symondshttps://t.co/eQFeETVChy
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 16, 2018
The Indian skipper labelled Symonds a ''good fiction writer'', alleging the Australian had made up a false version of the events.
''I thought he was a very good cricketer but Symonds has turned out to be a good fiction writer - he sold a story then (2008) and he is ‘selling a story’ now (2018). Mate, the world has come of age in these 10 years and it’s time you also grew up,'' he said.
I thought he was a very good cricketer but Symonds has turned out to be a good fiction writer - he sold a story then (2008) and he is ‘selling a story’ now (2018). Mate, the world has come of age in these 10 years and it’s time you also grew up
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 16, 2018
Symonds lost his central contract prior to the World T20 in England in 2009, and after "breaking a number of team rules related to alcohol and other issues", he was sent home and never played for Australia again, having had his CA contract cancelled.
“I suppose this would be the moment where my whole persona to cricket changed,” Symonds said.
“I didn’t realise the politics, the power, the money until this moment in my career.
“I didn’t realise how powerful one player, one incident, how much money was at stake and the ramifications.
“I went downhill pretty fast after this because I felt responsible for four of my mates, close mates (Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist), that I dragged into this whole situation and it beared very heavily on me.
“I started drinking way too much and my cricket, my mindset – I started to go downhill; I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind.”
