The short version
- Usman Khawaja states that all players on the Australian team were aware of the ball-tampering incident in Cape Town, arguing that blame should have been shared collectively.
- Current captain Pat Cummins and other key bowlers maintain they had no knowledge of the plot, a stance supported by former coach Darren Lehmann.
- Cricket Australia has declined to reopen its investigation, citing that all relevant information has already been considered and findings remain valid.
Usman Khawaja has reignited controversy surrounding one of Australian cricket’s most significant scandals by asserting that the entire squad was aware of the ball-tampering incident in Cape Town eight years ago. The retired opener, who debuted for Australia against England in 2011, made these claims in his newly released autobiography, titled Sabr, as well as in recent interviews with the Sydney Morning Herald. His comments challenge the long-standing narrative that only three individuals were culpable for the plot to use sandpaper on the ball during a Test match against South Africa.
At the time of the 2018 incident, captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and opener Cameron Bancroft were the sole players punished by Cricket Australia. Khawaja argues that this outcome was unjust because it isolated three individuals while absolving the rest of the team. In video messages posted to Instagram on Sunday, he clarified that his intention was not to assign individual guilt but to emphasize collective responsibility. He stated that as a unit, the team should have accepted accountability for what occurred together, rather than allowing Smith, Warner, and Bancroft to bear the full burden alone.
Khawaja’s assertion that everyone on the tour knew about the sandpaper use directly contradicts previous statements from several prominent figures in Australian cricket. Four bowlers who played in that specific Test match—Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon—remain active members of the national team. Cummins has served as Test captain since 2021. In a joint statement released in 2021, this quartet explicitly denied any knowledge of a foreign substance being taken onto the field. Their denial stands in sharp contrast to Khawaja’s current position that awareness was universal within the squad.
Former Australian coach Darren Lehmann, who resigned in the immediate aftermath of the scandal, also pushed back against Khawaja’s claims. Speaking to ABC on Saturday, Lehmann expressed skepticism about the idea that every player possessed knowledge of the plot. He stated that he did not believe everyone would have been aware of what was happening, suggesting that Khawaja’s broad characterization of team awareness may be inaccurate. This disagreement highlights the deep divisions that still exist regarding the extent of complicity within the dressing room at the time.
Khawaja defended his decision to wait until his retirement and the publication of his book to share his perspective on the events. He explained that he did not want to be the first person to speak out while he was still an active member of the team, particularly given that some teammates were unwilling to discuss the matter. He acknowledged that critics might view his silence during those four years as cowardice, but he maintained that speaking up earlier would have been difficult given the team dynamics and the desire to avoid further conflict among players.
The retired batsman also addressed accusations that he was unfairly targeting specific individuals or attempting to shift blame. He insisted that he has not thrown anyone under the bus, emphasizing that his comments were intended to reflect on the collective failure of the group rather than to incriminate specific teammates. He noted that Smith, Warner, and Bancroft were the victims of a situation where they took the fall for everyone, including himself, who also experienced significant stress and sleepless nights during the period.
Cricket Australia has indicated no intention to revisit its investigation into the 2018 events. A statement from the governing body acknowledged the extensive media coverage and speculation surrounding the scandal over the past eight years, including discussions during last month’s Test series in South Africa. The organization noted that there has been an ongoing opportunity for any relevant information to be presented, which remains the case. They affirmed that all information provided to date has been properly considered and that they remain comfortable with the findings of their integrity process.
Khawaja’s comments come after it was revealed in October that he met with Pat Cummins to discuss the contents of his upcoming autobiography before Australia’s recent Test series in South Africa. That series ended with a 2-1 victory for the Proteas. Khawaja, who scored 6,229 runs in 88 Tests for Australia before retiring in January, used his platform to reflect on the cultural and ethical failures that led to the sandpaper incident. His insistence on shared responsibility continues to provoke debate among fans, former players, and cricket administrators about accountability and transparency in professional sports.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗I haven't thrown anyone under the bus - Khawaja
