Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has firmly rejected Usman Khawaja’s explosive claims regarding the infamous 2018 Sandpapergate scandal during the Cape Town Test against South Africa.
Speaking at a promotional launch event in Sydney, the veteran paceman reiterated that his version of events remains unchanged since the initial investigation into the ball-tampering incident.
Starc insisted that he stands by the joint statement released in 2021 alongside fellow bowling attack members Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon.
The quartet had previously denied any prior knowledge of sandpaper being brought onto the field to alter the condition of the ball during the Cape Town match.
Addressing journalists at the media event, Starc expressed indifference toward the recent storm created by Khawaja’s tell-all book, stating he had not read the publication.
He emphasized that authorities heavily drilled the team through the process years ago, maintaining that his personal recollection of the timeline has not shifted at all.
Starc reiterated that the bowling group only discovered the illegal tactics when footage appeared on the big screen inside Newlands Stadium during the controversial match.
He also dismissed Khawaja’s specific assertion that players knew about similar practices during the preceding Port Elizabeth Test, leaving those claims for the author to explain.
The left-arm bowler confirmed he has not spoken to Khawaja over the past couple of days following the publication of the controversial book chapter.
Starc noted that any potential conversation between the two teammates moving forward remains entirely up to Khawaja, signaling potential friction within the national setup.
Khawaja dedicated the controversial chapter in his autobiography, titled ‘Sabr’, to the central figures of the scandal: Cameron Bancroft, David Warner, and Steve Smith.
Former opening batter David Warner recently backed Khawaja’s written claims, publicly describing the revelations in the book as completely accurate.
Starc expressed deep disappointment that historical controversy has resurfaced right before Australia begins an extensive home summer against visiting international teams.
He urged media and supporters to focus on the upcoming matches, pointing out that the current national squad has evolved significantly over the past eight years.
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