Cricket Australia says it stands by 2018 integrity findings as former player Usman Khawaja alleges wider involvement
Former batsman Usman Khawaja claims the entire Australian team knew about the 2018 sandpaper scandal, prompting Cricket Australia to reaffirm its original investigation while a former ethics director urges a fresh review.
Former Australian Test batsman Usman Khawaja has alleged in his upcoming autobiography that all members of the 2018 South Africa squad were aware of the sandpaper plot, contradicting the findings of Cricket Australia’s earlier integrity investigation. The claim suggests the tampering discussion began in the preceding Test at Gqeberha rather than the Cape Town match where Cameron Bancroft was filmed with sandpaper.
Peter Collins, who oversaw the player review after the scandal, said the new allegations raise questions that Cricket Australia should investigate further. > "On the basis of what Usman Khawaja has written, this raises questions that Cricket Australia needs to investigate further," Collins told the newspaper. > "If what he is saying is true, it presents an account of Sandpapergate that is at odds with the statement put out by the captain and the fast bowlers. Cricket Australia needs to take an active leadership role in following this up to resolve the issues."
Cricket Australia responded that it remains comfortable with the conclusions of its original integrity process, which found only David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft had prior knowledge of the plan. The board noted that any new relevant information could still be submitted for review.
Former coach Darren Lehmann, who resigned after the scandal, expressed skepticism about Khawaja’s timing, linking the revelations to the promotion of his autobiography. He said the extent of team knowledge was likely “case by case” and that some matters might be “best unsaid” for the good of the game.
The four bowlers involved in the 2018 Test – Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon – have not commented, and Bancroft’s manager confirmed the former bowler has received a chapter of Khawaja’s book and will consider a response.
The renewed debate comes eight years after the incident, which led to suspensions and a joint denial from the bowlers in 2021 that they had knowledge of a foreign substance on the ball.