Peter Handscomb opens up on allegations leveled against him during ball-tampering saga
Australian cricketer Peter Handscomb had cleared the air around his involvement in the ‘Sandpapergate’ incident that occurred earlier this year in Cape Town. Handscomb mocked the video footage where he is allegedly seen passing a message from coach Darren Lehmann to Cameron Bancroft on camera.
The entire world was shocked when Australian skipper Steven Smith, along with youngster Cameron Bancroft, admitted to ball-tampering accusations during the Test at Cape Town against the Proteas. What followed was a scathing attack on the Australian trio of Smith, Bancroft and vice-captain, David Warner. But another Australian cricketer who was criticised for his actions on that fateful day was Peter Handscomb.
Video footage that emerged later during the day allegedly showed that Handscomb had relayed a message from coach Darren Lehmann to Cameron Bancroft during the ball tampering scandal. However, the 27-year old broke his silence on the accusations made against him as he denied all allegations while he mocked the media’s editing tricks that were being used to frame him.
“I love that footage because it’s actually amazing how much the media edited it. So, it shows me on the walkie-talkie then running out and talking to Cam (Bancroft). What happened, I am on the walkie-talkie. Twenty minutes, 25 minutes later, a player comes off because they need to go to the bathroom. I am next to it so that’s why I come on.
“I get put into a catching position next to Cam because we are both short catches… we are front of the wicket catchers or in slips together. That’s why I was there, literally just trying to have a joke with him. There was nothing else. All this build-up about me trying to do something there, it wasn’t there,” the batsman told Cricbuzz.
All hell broke loose for the three accused in the whole ball-tampering saga as Smith and Warner were handed 12-month bans while Bancroft was given a slightly lenient sanction of nine months from domestic and international cricket. Warner and Smith were not allowed to participate in this year’s IPL too but featured in the recently concluded 2018 Global T20 Canada.
Australia
“It was a bit of a shame to come back into the Test side under those circumstances – I had really wanted to get back in through sheer work and put numbers on the board and make sure I was doing all the right things. Sometimes it’s right place, right time, and I have to try and take that opportunity,” Handscomb added.
