Former Australian opener Usman Khawaja has abruptly cancelled his remaining television and radio interviews for the promotion of his autobiography, *Sabr*, following a contentious appearance on ABC’s *7.30*. According to News Corp, publisher Penguin notified media outlets on Wednesday morning that the former top-order batter would not proceed with his scheduled promotional engagements. The decision comes directly after Khawaja faced pointed questioning from host Sarah Ferguson regarding his ongoing dispute with former captain Pat Cummins over the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, widely known as Sandpapergate.
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During the Tuesday broadcast, Khawaja signaled his refusal to rehash the controversy, stating that his social media posts and the contents of his book constitute his final statement on the matter. When Ferguson pressed him on David Warner’s recent backing of his version of events and the claim that “lies will eventually get out,” Khawaja deflected, asserting he would not speak on behalf of Warner. The interview highlighted a sharp divide between the two former teammates, with Khawaja insisting that he has already exhausted his willingness to discuss the allegations in public forums.
Khawaja’s camp reportedly fears that future media appearances will be dominated by the Sandpapergate narrative rather than the broader themes explored in *Sabr*. By cutting off the promotional tour, the former opener aims to shift the focus away from the legal and political fallout of the 2018 incident. This strategic withdrawal underscores the lasting impact of the scandal on Australian cricket’s public discourse, as key figures continue to navigate the reputational risks associated with revisiting the controversy years after the events in Melbourne.
Source: Yahoo Sports
