Usman Khawaja Claims Entire Australia Team Knew About Sandpaper Use
Usman Khawaja has claimed in his new autobiography that the entire Australian team was aware of the ball-tampering scheme during the 2018 tour of South Africa.
NEW DELHI, Nov 7: Usman Khawaja has stated that the entire Australian cricket team knowingly participated in a ball-tampering scandal during their 2018 series against South Africa. This revelation comes from excerpts of his upcoming autobiography, Sabr, published in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Khawaja, who played as an opener, claims that discussions regarding the use of sandpaper to manipulate the ball took place among batters and across the entire team. “It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us,” he said.
This assertion contradicts previous statements made by Australia’s bowlers, including current captain Pat Cummins, who insisted in a joint statement in 2021 that they had no knowledge of the tampering plan. Khawaja said that discussions about tampering began during the second Test of the series in Port Elizabeth, where they identified sandpaper as an effective method.
The scandal, commonly referred to as ‘Sandpapergate’, led to severe penalties for three players: captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft. Smith and Warner received one-year suspensions, while Bancroft was banned for nine months. Khawaja expressed surprise that he was not interviewed during the investigation conducted by Cricket Australia.
“I was sitting next to Cam Bancroft that whole Test match, and I didn’t get interviewed,” Khawaja remarked. He felt his potential insights were overlooked because he advocated for collective responsibility among the team, rather than allowing the three players to bear the brunt of the fallout.
While Khawaja’s revelations reignite discussions about the scandal, Darren Lehmann, Australia’s head coach at the time, dismissed Khawaja’s claims, suggesting that not everyone could have been aware of the tampering. He also emphasized that ball tampering, while known in cricket, varies significantly in method and extent.
Khawaja expressed his belief that justice has not been served for Smith, Warner, and Bancroft, stating, “I think it’s the right thing to do, particularly for those three guys.” He also noted that many former teammates might feel a sense of relief in moving past the incident.
Cummins commented on Khawaja’s decision to speak out, indicating that he welcomed the discussion surrounding the past and perceived no issues with revisiting the events of 2018.
As the cricketing community reflects on these claims, Cricket Australia has reiterated that all relevant information from past inquiries has been thoroughly evaluated, maintaining confidence in their original findings.
Sources
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