Former Australian opener Usman Khawaja says entire team knew about sandpaper use

Former Australian batsman Usman Khawaja told the Sydney Morning Herald that the entire Australian side was aware of sandpaper being used to alter the ball during the 2018 Test series against South Africa, including the match in Port Elizabeth before the Cape Town incident. He said the knowledge was shared by "all of us" – players and staff – and that he had urged teammates to take collective responsibility rather than singling out captain Steve Smith, deputy David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

"It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us," Khawaja said.

Khawaja, who is set to release an autobiography titled Sabr, said he refrained from speaking earlier because he hoped the truth would emerge without his intervention. He added that he felt the three players directly involved had borne the brunt of the sanctions – Smith received a 12-month ban and a leadership ban, Warner a lifetime captaincy ban that was later lifted, and Bancroft a nine-month ban – and that he wanted to help restore their reputations.

He also criticised Cricket Australia for not interviewing him during its investigation, suggesting the board avoided his testimony because he was prepared to acknowledge the team's collective role. Ahead of Australia’s recent tour of South Africa, Khawaja said he discussed his forthcoming book with current Test captain Pat Cummins.

Khawaja acknowledged that his revelations could cause short-term discomfort but maintained that exposing the full extent of the incident was necessary to allow the team and the three players to move on.