Starc denies knowledge of sandpaper plan as Cricket Australia rejects new inquiry

Mitchell Starc has denied claims in Usman Khawaja’s new book that knowledge of the 2018 ball-tampering plan in South Africa extended beyond the three players who were suspended, The Guardian reported Tuesday.

“We weren’t aware anything was taken on the field,” Starc said, according to the report. His denial responds to claims about how widely the sandpaper plan was known within the Australian side.

Cricket Australia said there was no “compelling reason” to establish a new inquiry, The Guardian reported. The governing body’s position rules out reopening its investigation following the claims in Khawaja’s book.

Sources

• Mitchell Starc breaks silence to deny knowledge of ball tampering plan