Usman Khawaja has ignited fresh controversy by asserting that the entire Australian touring party possessed knowledge of the 2018 sandpaper ball-tampering scandal. In the lead-up to the release of his autobiography, *Sabr*, the former Test opener stated that the team utilized sandpaper to tamper with the ball during the second Test at Port Elizabeth, a detail that extends the alleged misconduct beyond the initial Cape Town incident. This revelation directly contradicts the narrow scope of the original investigation, which focused exclusively on the events surrounding Cameron Bancroft’s on-camera handling of the object during the third Test.
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The former batter’s comments cast a long shadow over the disciplinary actions taken by Cricket Australia, which sanctioned only three players: captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft. Smith and Warner received 12-month suspensions for their prior knowledge of the scheme, while Bancroft was banned for nine months for the physical act of using sandpaper. Khawaja’s claim that “all” members of the squad were aware of the plot suggests a systemic culture of complicity rather than an isolated incident involving a small group, raising serious questions about the thoroughness of the initial inquiry.
Despite these new allegations, Cricket Australia has maintained that it remains “comfortable” with the bans imposed on the trio, refusing to reopen the case or expand the sanctions. The timing of Khawaja’s remarks, coinciding with the launch of his memoir, adds a layer of personal vindication to the narrative, as he seeks to clarify his role and the broader team dynamics during the controversial South Africa tour. This development keeps the 2018 scandal in the public eye, challenging the finality of the original verdict and prompting renewed debate about accountability in Australian cricket.
Source: The Guardian Sport
