Khawaja Reveals Full Team Knowledge of 2018 Ball Tampering Scandal

Former Australian opener Usman Khawaja has claimed that the entire national team was aware of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town. Speaking on Saturday, Khawaja stated that the squad employed the same tactic during the subsequent Test match in Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha. This assertion directly contradicts the conclusions of the original Cricket Australia investigation, which identified only three players as having prior knowledge of the plot.

The 2018 controversy, widely referred to as Sandpapergate, resulted in the dismissal of captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft. All three players were found to be the only members of the team with foreknowledge of the scheme. Smith received a one-year ban and was removed from the captaincy, while Warner was suspended for 12 months and stripped of all leadership positions. Bancroft was given a nine-month ban. Head coach Darren Lehmann was cleared of direct involvement but resigned shortly after the series concluded.

Khawaja, who retired from international cricket this year after playing 88 Tests, spoke to The Sydney Morning Herald ahead of the release of his autobiography next week. The book includes a dedicated chapter on the incident. Khawaja emphasized that the knowledge was not limited to specific roles within the team. He stated, “It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us.”

This claim stands in contrast to previous statements made by several key bowlers. In 2021, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon publicly denied having knowledge of the ball-tampering plot. Khawaja noted that he had addressed the team in the dressing room following the Cape Town Test, urging them to accept collective responsibility rather than placing the blame solely on Smith, Warner, and Bancroft.

Reflecting on the decision to speak out after eight years, Khawaja expressed reluctance but a sense of necessity. He said, “In an ideal world, I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to be the one who comes out and talks about the truth.” He added that he had hoped the truth would have emerged earlier, perhaps through Warner or another team member, but felt it had come down to him to finally address the matter.

According to the newspaper, Khawaja’s autobiography details discussions held in the dressing room during the second Test in Gqeberha regarding methods to rough up the ball. The book recounts that the team discovered sandpaper was an effective tool for this purpose. At that stage, Smith allegedly walked away from the conversation, stating he did not wish to be involved in the knowledge of the tactic. Bancroft then allegedly volunteered to use the sandpaper during South Africa’s first innings, where the ball was observed to swing significantly.

Cricket Australia responded to the new claims with a statement expressing that it remained comfortable with the findings of its original integrity process. The governing body acknowledged the extensive media coverage and speculation that has surrounded the incident over the past eight years, particularly during the recent series in South Africa. It noted that there has been a continuous opportunity for any relevant information to be presented.

The statement further clarified that all relevant information provided to Cricket Australia to date has been properly considered. The organization maintained its position that the initial investigation was thorough and that it remains open to any new evidence that may be presented in the future.

The revelations from Khawaja have reignited debate about the transparency of the 2018 inquiry. While the original report focused on the actions of the three primary players involved in the act, the former opener’s account suggests a broader culture of awareness within the squad. As his autobiography goes on sale next week, further details regarding the internal team dynamics during that period are expected to come to light.