Usman Khawaja has ignited fresh controversy by asserting that the entire Australian cricket squad was aware of the ball-tampering incident during the 2018 series against South Africa. In excerpts from his autobiography, *Sabr*, the former opening batter explicitly rejected the narrative that only a few individuals were involved, stating, “It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us.” This bold admission directly challenges previous testimonies and suggests a systemic failure in accountability within the team hierarchy during the final Test in Cape Town.
Former opener claims collective responsibility in ‘sandpapergate’ revelations
The revelations extend beyond the infamous Cape Town match, with Khawaja claiming Australia employed similar sandpaper tactics in the preceding Test of the series. The original incident, widely known as “sandpapergate,” resulted in severe sanctions for captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and batter Cameron Bancroft, who received bans ranging from one to two years. By linking the two matches, Khawaja implies a pattern of behavior rather than an isolated error, potentially reopening debates about the integrity of the 2018 tour and the extent of the players’ complicity.
Despite Khawaja’s sweeping claims, the four Australian bowlers who participated in the Cape Town match, including current Test captain Pat Cummins, have consistently denied having any prior knowledge of the plan. The former opener, now 39, made his Test debut in 2011 and has since become a vocal figure in Australian cricket discourse. His comments stand in stark contrast to the official line maintained by the bowlers, creating a significant rift in the public record of one of the most damaging scandals in modern cricket history.
Source: BBC Sport
