Starc denies knowledge of Khawaja's 'Sandpapergate' claims

Australia's fast bowler Mitchell Starc said he had no knowledge of the scandal known as 'Sandpapergate'. The statement came after former teammate Usman Khawaja made claims in his new book 'Sabr'. Khawaja suggested that during the 2018 Cape Town Test in South Africa, every player in the team was aware of the plan to tamper with the ball.

Cricket Australia acknowledges that only David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft knew about the plan, and that these three were punished after the scandal. On Monday, Warner described Khawaja's account as "100 percent accurate."

Starc told reporters on Tuesday that he had not read the book and does not intend to. Saying that his recollections of 2018 have changed, Starc said he stands by what they stated in the joint statement in 2021. Stressing that he had no knowledge of anything used on the field being taken to be tampered with, Starc said he heard the claim that the ball was also tampered with during the previous Test in Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha, for the first time.

Cricket Australia Chairman Todd Greenberg said the 'Sandpapergate' investigation would not be reopened. Current Test captain Pat Cummins is also expected to speak to the media in the coming days and weeks.