Harry Brook Distances Himself from Ball Tampering Controversy Ahead of ODI Series

New Delhi, November 12 (Daily Kiran) : England’s captain, Harry Brook, has distanced himself from the ongoing discussions surrounding the infamous ‘Sandpaper Gate’ scandal. He asserted that he has never witnessed ball tampering during his international career and refused to engage in debates related to the 2018 Australian controversy.

Brook’s comments came just before the first One Day International (ODI) against Australia at Perth Stadium. The recent release of Usman Khawaja’s book, “Sabr,” has reignited conversations about the ball tampering incident that occurred during the Cape Town Test against South Africa in March 2018.

When asked about the scandal, Brook stated that he had no direct knowledge of the events, as he was merely a teenager when the incident unfolded. In a press conference reported by The Independent, he remarked, “I have never seen ball tampering. I was not in that (Australian) dressing room. I would have been around 17 or 18 years old at the time, so I had no awareness of these matters.”

The England captain emphasized that his focus is on preparing his team for the white-ball series against Australia rather than discussing events from eight years ago. He said, “We are here in Australia and looking forward to this series. We can only focus on ourselves and prepare as best as we can. Right now, our complete focus is just on us. That’s all we can do. We have come here to play against a strong Australian team in their home.”

Khawaja’s autobiography has brought the controversy back into the spotlight. The former Australian opener claims that the entire team was aware of the use of sandpaper during the Cape Town Test. He also alleged that similar tactics were employed during a previous Test match in Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha.

These revelations have been supported by former Australian opener David Warner, who faced a one-year ban following the scandal and was banned for life from holding any leadership position within the team. However, the leadership ban was lifted in 2024.

Meanwhile, Brook expressed excitement about starting the series in Perth, reminiscing about the atmosphere during the previous Ashes series. He noted, “Series between Australia and England are always fantastic, and we are eager to kick this one off. We are thrilled to be here. We are all ready to play at Optus Stadium, where the last Ashes series began. It’s a great venue for cricket. The atmosphere was incredible when we played here.”