Days after accusing Indian skipper Virat Kohli of leaving last game in Dharamsala for the sake of the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), former Australian cricketer Brad Hodge has apologised for his remarks on March 30.
Brad Hodge, who is going to coach the Gujarat Lions in this IPL season, took to his twitter account where he posted the picture of a letter signed by him in which he has apologised to the people of India, cricket fans, Indian cricket team and Virat Kohli.
His letter read,”As a professional sportsperson who has represented his country, I certainly understand what it means to step out on a cricket field donning your nation’s colours. It is the highest honour a sportsperson can ask for.”
— Brad Hodge (@bradhodge007) March 29, 2017
“Keeping that in mind, I take this opportunity to apologise to the people of India, cricket fans, the Indian national cricket team and particularly Virat Kohli for my previous comments. My intention was never to harm, criticize or be derogatory towards anyone. They were intended to be light-hearted comments with the utmost respect to the Indian Premier League which I have thoroughly enjoyed through the years. The public & fans have every right to be upset, and the backlash I have received has certainly driven the point home.” he wrote further.
Finally, Hodge concluded his letter writing,”Again, I am deeply apologetic to the country which has bought me so much joy, and its inspirational leader in Virat Kohli, to whom I mean no ill-intention & respect highly as a professional.”
Earlier on March 24, in a pre-match press conference, Virat Kohli said that he won’t be able to play the last game in Dharamsala as he is not 100 per cent recovered from his shoulder injury happened in Ranchi. To this decision of the Indian skipper and the board, Bradd Hodge said,” Because if you miss one game of Test match cricket and you’re fronting up the next week for RCB versus whoever, Bangalore, at Chinnaswamy Stadium – you’d be pretty dirty if you did not front up to a Test match and try and win a valuable series against Australia – which has been pretty spiteful as well.”
“It’s happened before. Not just Virat but there are many players that have come up to IPL time and again. Look, we know it’s a cash rich tournament, there’s some money up for grabs”, he added.
