# Starc rejects Khawaja's ball-tampering claims

> Mitchell Starc disputes Usman Khawaja's assertion that the 2018 sandpaper scandal was known across the Australian cricket team.
- Title: Starc rejects Khawaja's ball-tampering claims · Abc | Shortify
- Summary: Mitchell Starc disputes Usman Khawaja's assertion that the 2018 sandpaper scandal was known across the Australian cricket team.
- Keywords: mitchell starc, usman khawaja, ball-tampering, 2018 sandpaper scandal, australian cricket, cape town test, Abc
- Source: Abc — https://abc.net.au/news/2026-11-10/mitchell-starc-responds-to-usman-khawaja-sandpaper-claims/107369870
- Published: 2026-11-10T05:58:17+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: mitchell starc, usman khawaja, ball-tampering, 2018 sandpaper scandal, australian cricket, cape town test, news, politics
## Khawaja's book makes new claims
Usman Khawaja's new book Sabr, released today, claims the plan to use sandpaper on the ball in the Cape Town Test was common knowledge among the Australian team.
## Starc disputes the account
Mitchell Starc, speaking at Fox Cricket's season launch, became the first current player to respond, rejecting Khawaja's claim that all team members knew of the plot.
## What Starc says he knew
Starc insisted he did not know a substance was being taken onto the field in Cape Town. He said the bowlers saw it on the big screen only after it happened.

> We weren't aware anything was taken on the field to be tampered with. We saw it on the big screen in Cape Town.
## His position unchanged since 2021
Starc said his stance had not changed since 2021, when he and fellow bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon released a statement disputing knowledge of the plot.

> my opinion hasn't changed, and my recollection hasn't changed from what we said in 2021.
## Warner backs Khawaja's version
David Warner, who was punished for the scandal along with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, said today that Khawaja's claims were one hundred per cent accurate.
## Cricket Australia will not reopen case
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said there are no plans to reopen the investigation, saying they are comfortable with the outcome based on information received.

> We don't see any compelling reason to open the investigation or revisit this.
## Key takeaway

Mitchell Starc rejected Usman Khawaja's claim that all team members knew of the 2018 ball-tampering plot, insisting his recollection has not changed since 2021.