Former Indian cricket team all-rounder Irfan Pathan described a never-heard-before altercation he had with Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara during a 2005 Test match. The players from Sri Lanka were not pleased with the replacement of the ball box during the second Test of the three-match series. Unaware of the unhappiness, Pathan, who was asked to open the batting for India, got into a verbal altercation with Sangakkara. He disclosed that after he hit Muttiah Muralitharan for two sixes and even referred to the Indian players as “cheaters,” the great from Sri Lanka began disparaging him.

The event took place in New Delhi during a Test in 2005. Irfan and Gautam Gambhir stepped out to open India’s batting innings. The left-handed batter went on to score 93, but Sangakkara was involved in an altercation during his knock.

Pathan revealed that the umpires altered the ball during the Sri Lankan batting innings, which infuriated Sangakkara and the rest of the visiting team. The Sri Lankan wicketkeeper attacked Pathan when the Indian team walked out to bat, accusing the hosts of “cheating.” The legendary Sri Lankan also questioned Indian athletes’ upbringing.

“There was a Test match in Delhi. I opened and made 93. After the first innings, when we went to bowl, the box of balls had changed or something like that happened, and Sri Lankan players were not happy. Sangakkara was the most vocal of all. Then, when I went to bat, I had zero idea what had happened; I was asked to open. I hit Muralidharan for two sixes. If he is getting hit for sixes with the new ball, it means you have derailed the opposition’s planning a bit. Suddenly, Sangakkara started saying you guys cheat, your parents teach you all this and blah blah. He went personal, and I also answered back. He started it,” Pathan said in said on ‘Cheeky Singles’.

However, Irfan Pathan disclosed that they ultimately apologised to one another when both players joined Kings XI Punjab for the first Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2008.

“After the auction, I saw I would be playing with Sangakkara at Punjab. Now I was eating with his family, and I did not know what to do. I went and told him sorry. He also apologised, and then we became good friends. Emotions are high, and you always make mistakes. It matters how maturely you handle things.”