Australia's T20I captain Mitchell Marsh has declined to publicly address the renewed controversy surrounding the 2018 Cape Town ball-tampering scandal, saying he has 'moved on' and does not intend to revisit his recollections from that tour of South Africa. His remarks came on Thursday as fresh scrutiny settled over the episode, reignited by former opener Usman Khawaja's memoir Sabr.

What Khawaja's Book Claims

Khawaja's recently released autobiography has thrown the Sandpapergate affair back into sharp focus, with the former Australia opener alleging that knowledge of the ball-tampering plan extended well beyond the three players — Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith, and David Warner — who were ultimately sanctioned. The claims have prompted fresh questions about how much others in the Australian squad knew before Bancroft was caught using sandpaper on the ball during the Cape Town Test in March 2018.

Marsh's Response: 'I've Moved On'

When asked directly about his knowledge of the plot, Marsh was careful but firm in declining to contribute to the public debate. 'There's been a lot of noise 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, but it's a big week for us and an important time for this one-day group, and my sole focus has been on preparing for tomorrow. I'm not here to go back on my recollections of South Africa,' he said, as quoted by nine.com.au.

Marsh added: 'I really respect that Uzzy has told his story, he's written his book, and my focus is really on tomorrow. My honest answer is because I've moved on, I respect that others probably haven't, but I have. And I hope that's respected.'

The Unsigned Fast Bowlers' Statement

Marsh was also asked why he had not co-signed the statement issued by Australia's four frontline fast bowlers — Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon — who all denied having prior knowledge of the sandpaper plan. Marsh declined to elaborate on that matter as well, repeating that he was 'not here to go back on my recollections of South Africa.' Notably, Marsh had bowled 12 overs in the Cape Town Test and was part of the squad alongside his brother Shaun Marsh.

Private Conversation with Khawaja Before Publication

Despite his public silence, Marsh confirmed that he and Khawaja had spoken privately before Sabr was released on Tuesday. He described it as a phone conversation in which the two discussed both the book's claims and the Cricket Australia investigation that followed the incident. The disclosure suggests Marsh was aware of the memoir's contents ahead of its release, even as he chose not to publicly contest or confirm them.

Aftermath and What Comes Next

The 2018 scandal ended with Bancroft, Smith, and Warner being sent home from the tour and subsequently handed bans. In the reshuffle that followed, Marsh and Hazlewood were appointed vice-captains of the Test side under new skipper Tim Paine. With Australia's England series now taking centre stage, Marsh has made clear his intention to keep the squad's attention on the immediate schedule rather than reopen a controversy that, nearly eight years on, still refuses to fully close.