Former Australian cricketer and current Gujarat Lions head coach Brad Hodge has issued a public apology for the comments against Indian skipper Virat Kohli, which he gave a few days back.
Before the Dharamsala Test, Hodge questioned Kohli’s sportsmanship by saying: “Because if you miss one game of Test match cricket and you’re fronting up the next week for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) versus whoever … you’d be pretty dirty if he didn’t front up to a Test match and try and win a valuable series against Australia.”
These remarks sparked a big controversy as Indian fans criticized Hodge for his uninformed remarks.
But, on Friday, Hodge took to his Twitter account and wrote an apology letter, stating that he never intended to cause any harm or criticize anyone and he only meant those words in a light-hearted sense.
Here’s what Brad Hodge wrote in his apology letter:
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.
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.
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.
Regards,
Brad Hodge
