Australian batsman Peter Handscomb has made a huge claim regarding the Cape Town ball-tampering saga which led to the suspension of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft from international cricket.


Handscomb has claimed that the video which has been used as the visual evidence of the incident and did rounds on the social media is doctored or edited.


As seen in the video, Bancroft was spotted rubbing the sandpaper on the ball while former head coach, Darren Lehmann spots him and utters something on the walkie-talkie to Handscomb.


Then comes the next shot were Handscomb and Bancroft could be seen having a laugh with Bancroft in the middle after which the latter hides the yellow object under his pants.


However, Handscomb has claimed that there was a gap of 20 minutes between the two incidents.


Here's the video:






As per several reports, he accused media of editing the footage.


“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,” said Handscomb.


"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," he added.


"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."


However, he confirmed that Lehmann over the walkie-talkie as to what was going on the field.


"I haven't been dragged into it that much. If I was, I am basically off a lot of social media now anyway. I didn't read it and I didn't hear it."


The aftermath of this incident cost Bancroft a ban of 9 months while former skipper Smith and his deputy, Warner, were slapped with a suspension of 12 months. On the other hand, Handscomb managed to find a place in Tests.


He has been inducted in the Australia A team which will tour to India are scheduled to play a couple of four-day games followed by a 50-over quadrangular series against South Africa A, India A and India B.


 


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