Monkeygate scandal: Harbhajan Singh denies Symonds' apology claim

Veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has denied Australian cricketer Andrew Symond's claim that the bowler had apologised to him for his role in the monkeygate scandal which dates back to 2008.

Symonds, reportedly, revealed in a documentary that the Indian spinner broke down in tears while apologising for the incident. The Australian all-rounder also claimed that the two players had resolved their issues, afterwards.

Reacting to the report, Harbhajan questioned all the claims made by Symonds. "WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN ??? BROKE DOWN ???? WHAT FOR ??? Harbhajan broke down when apologising for 'monkeygate' - Symonds," he tweeted.

In another tweet, the right-arm bowler termed the Australian as a "fiction writer" who used to sell stories in 2008 and is still doing the same thing.

"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 wrote.

During the second Test match of the Border-Gavaskar trophy at the SCG in 2008, Symonds had accused Harbhajan of calling him a monkey. Harbhajan, who had denied any wrongdoing, was found guilty of racial vilification by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and was handed over a three-match ban. The suspension, however, was lifted after an appeal was made against the decision.