Cameron Bancroft takes a U-turn on his claims related to 2018 ball-tampering scandal

Bancroft had alleged that the Australian bowlers were also aware of the unethical plot.

Cameron Bancroft | GettyCameron Bancroft has reportedly notified Cricket Australia (CA) that he has no new information about the ball-tampering scandal, taking a U-turn on his earlier claims that the bowlers might be aware of the unethical plot during the 2018 Cape Town Test.

See Also: “What’s the surprise?”, Michael Clarke reacts to Cameron Bancroft’s revelation on ball-tampering plot

The Sandpaper Gate resurfaced again after Bancroft last week said it was 'probably self-explanatory' whether the Australian bowlers knew that the ball was being tampered with.

However, Bancroft denied having any new information on the infamous incident when CA’s integrity unit reached out to him.

"Bancroft, who is playing county cricket in the UK, had responded overnight on Monday in a conciliatory manner and indicated that he did not have significant new information to share with CA," the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, quoting sources in the know of development, reported.

"Bancroft is said to have told CA he is supportive of the investigation and satisfied with the outcome," it added.

The report also stated that "the matter is now unlikely to escalate."

Australian cricket was shaken to the core after cameras had caught Bancroft using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball on Day 3 of the 2018 Cape Town Test. As a result, then captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner were handed 12-month bans while Bancroft was slapped with a nine-month suspension under Cricket Australia's Code of Conduct.

After serving their bans, Smith and Warner have made a successful comeback to international cricket. On the other hand, Bancroft is yet to find his feet at the highest level, though, he featured in the 2019 Ashes series.

(With PTI inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 18 May, 2021

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