![Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1794467619903_Usman_Khawaja_Mitchell_Marsh.jpg?type=hq)
Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh [Source: AFP]
Usman Khawaja might just have conjured up past demons of Australian cricket through his explosive tell-all, Sabr. Roughly a decade after the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town nearly destroyed Australian cricket, the former opener has claimed that everyone in the then Australian team was aware of the nefarious activity, even though only a handful of players were punished for their involvement.
While Khawaja has since received some support from his former opening partner David Warner, he has also seemingly alienated several others, including Mitchell Starc and then head coach Darren Lehmann.
Amid the growing debate surrounding Khawaja’s revelations, current Australian captain Mitchell Marsh has also weighed in on the controversy, offering his perspective on the explosive claims.
Mitchell Marsh shuts down Usman Khawaja question before England series
While speaking with the reporters just a day before Australia’s home ODI series against England, Mitchell Marsh was asked to weigh in on Usman Khawaja’s explosive claims regarding the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
The current Australia ODI captain, who was part of the team that toured South Africa in early 2018 as a young all-rounder, refused to go back to the incident as his current primary focus is to face England in a ‘World Cup year’.
Mitchell Marsh also revealed that he had a private phone call with Khawaja, but did not divulge any details of their conversation. He said, “Private phone call but I played with Uzzy for a long time and I respect that he’s told his story and that’s all.”
The Australian white-ball skipper added, “Look there has obviously been a lot of noise around this week and I respect that certain people have told their stories, but I’m not here to share mine today. I know that might sound weird, it’s a big week for us and this one-day group and my sole focus is preparing for tomorrow.”
Mitchell Marsh further said, “I’m walking out tomorrow to captain my country in a really exciting series against England in a World Cup year and my focus has been on that. My honest answer is I’ve personally moved on, I respect that others haven’t, but I have. I hope that’s respected.”
What did Usman Khawaja say about ball-tampering scandal of 2018?
An excerpt from Usman Khawaja’s autobiography “Sabr” was recently published, stating that the entire Australian team had knowledge of the ‘ball tampering’ activity at the time, even though only Cameron Bancroft, captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were punished by Cricket Australia for their involvement.
He wrote, “It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us.”
The former prolific opening batter even claimed that the Australian team had also tampered with the ball in the preceding Test of that tour.
