Usman Khawaja denies throwing teammates under bus in sandpaper scandal
Former Australia cricketer Usman Khawaja clarifies in his autobiography Sabr that the entire team should share collective responsibility for the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Usman Khawaja posted Instagram videos clarifying he did not throw anyone under the bus.
- His autobiography Sabr argues the whole Australia team shares blame for the 2018 incident.
- Only Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft faced heavy penalties back in 2018.
- Cricket Australia maintains confidence in its original integrity investigation findings.
Former Australia international cricketer Usman Khawaja has strongly denied accusations that he attempted to shift blame or point fingers at his colleagues regarding fresh revelations about the infamous ball-tampering controversy during the third Test against South Africa in 2018. The disclosures feature prominently in his newly published autobiography, Sabr, as well as in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.
The scandal erupted eight years ago in Cape Town, South Africa, resulting in severe sanctions from Cricket Australia against only three individuals: then-captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and opening batsman Cameron Bancroft. Meanwhile, other members of the squad repeatedly maintained they had no knowledge of or involvement in the plot to alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
To address misunderstandings surrounding his book, 39-year-old Khawaja published clarifying videos on his Instagram account. He emphasized that his remarks were intended to convey that whether the players liked it or not, everyone on the squad shared a collective duty for the events that transpired on the pitch.
Among the players who represented Australia in that specific Test match, four fast bowlers—Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon—continue to be key figures in the national squad. Cummins has served as the Test captain since 2021. Back in 2021, the quartet released a joint statement explicitly declaring they had no awareness that a foreign substance was brought onto the field.
"You would have seen when I mentioned it was all of us, that's implying that whether we like it or not, we are all responsible for what happened together. As a team, we need to take that collectively. That is all."
Usman Khawaja
Prior to the release of his autobiography, Khawaja met with current Test captain Pat Cummins to discuss the contents of the book ahead of Australia's Test series in South Africa. Khawaja retired from international cricket in January, concluding a stellar career in which he accumulated 6,229 runs across 88 Test appearances for his country.
The sandpaper scandal remains one of the darkest chapters in modern cricket history. Khawaja revisiting the controversy toward the end of his career reignites conversations about team culture and shared accountability within the Australian dressing room, particularly as several members from that era still occupy vital roles in the national setup today.
Cricket Australia stated that despite considerable media speculation over the past eight years and extensive coverage during the recent South Africa series, the governing body remains fully satisfied with the integrity process conducted at the time. Officials reiterated that an ongoing opportunity exists for anyone to present relevant information if they wish to do so.
Source: BBC Sport
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