Former Australian all-rounder Michael Bevan has reacted to the latest revelations made by Cameron Bancroft in the Sandpaper Gate saga. He has questioned how Cricket Australia (CA) sanctioned only three players – Steve Smith, David Warner, and Bancroft when there were others involved as well.
In an interview with The Guardian last week, Bancroft was asked whether the Australian bowlers, who played the Cape Town Test in 2018, knew about the condition of the ball being tampered with.
Bancroft claimed it was ‘self-explanatory’ that the bowlers — Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon — knew about the ball being tampered with. Bancroft was caught on the camera trying to tamper with the ball using sandpaper.
As a result, CA had to launch an investigation regarding the same. While Bancroft was banned for 9 months, the then skipper Steve Smith and David Warner were banned for one year each.
However, Bancroft latest statements paved the way for a new chapter in the infamous saga. Bevan, who played 18 Tests and 232 ODIs for Australia, took to Twitter to question CA over their decision to ban just 3 players when there were others who knew too.
“How can this still be going on 3 years later!! Surely every player must have been interviewed? Surely the bowlers must have known? How then can only 3 players be sanctioned??” Michael Bevan tweeted.
Earlier today, the four bowlers released a combined statement slamming those questioning their integrity over the ball-tampering scandal. Former Australian cricketers Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist have also reacted to Bancroft’s recent comments.