Mitchell Starc Responds to Usman Khawaja's Claims on 2018 Ball-Tampering Scandal

Starc Addresses Khawaja's Controversial Statements

In Sydney, Australia, on November 10, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has commented on Usman Khawaja's recent bold claims regarding the 2018 ball-tampering incident. Starc mentioned that he has not focused much on the matter and maintains the same perspective he had in 2021 when the Australian bowling group collectively stated they were unaware of any foreign object being used to manipulate the ball's condition.

The infamous 'Sandpapergate' scandal involved ball-tampering by the Australian team during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. This led to significant penalties for then-captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, both receiving one-year bans from competitive cricket, while Cameron Bancroft faced a nine-month ban from international and domestic matches.

In the lead-up to his autobiography 'Sabr', Khawaja asserted that the entire Australian squad, including players and support staff, was complicit in the ball-tampering incident during the South Africa tour. He emphasized that the blame should not rest solely on Smith, Warner, and Bancroft, contrary to Cricket Australia's findings. Khawaja expressed his hope that the truth would surface over the past eight years and aimed to ensure that the three players did not bear the burden alone.

Khawaja's autobiography not only calls for shared accountability among the Australian team but also reveals that the use of sandpaper was not limited to the third Test; it was allegedly employed during the second Test in Gqeberha as well.

When asked about Khawaja's revelations at a media event, Starc stated, as reported by Fox Sports, 'I have not really paid much attention, to be fair.' He acknowledged that opinions have varied over the past eight years, but he reiterated that his stance remains unchanged. 'My recollection has not changed from what we said in 2021,' he added.

Regarding Khawaja's comments about the Gqeberha Test, Starc remarked, 'Yeah, that is the first I was aware of any of that taking place in PE (Port Elizabeth). I will leave that for said authors to explain.' He concluded by reiterating that the bowlers were not aware of any wrongdoing occurring on the field.