Cricket Australia chief says no new probe into 2018 ball-tampering scandal
Todd Greenberg said Cricket Australia sees no compelling reason to reopen the investigation into the 2018 sandpaper incident, despite new claims in Usman Khawaja’s memoir.
Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg told radio station SEN that the board will not reopen the investigation into the 2018 sandpaper ball-tampering scandal, saying there is "no compelling reason to open the investigation or revisit this again" and that nothing further can be gained from it. The comments came after former opener Usman Khawaja’s autobiography alleged that knowledge of the plot was widespread among the team. Khawaja’s statements were backed by fellow former opener David Warner, who posted an Instagram video affirming the accuracy of Khawaja’s account. Warner said, "Uzzie, I throw my full support behind you. I thank you for what you've done… It's 100 percent accurate what you've said. Now everyone knows the truth. It's out there. People wanted to know it."
The 2018 incident, in which Australian players were caught using sandpaper to alter the ball’s condition during a Test against South Africa, led to the dismissal of captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and bowler Cameron Bancroft. A Cricket Australia inquiry concluded that only those three had prior knowledge of the scheme. Khawaja, who retired after 88 Tests, wrote that the entire squad was aware, a claim denied by current captain Pat Cummins and bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, as well as former coach Darren Lehmann. Warner, who served a 12-month suspension and a lifetime ban from leadership roles, added that acknowledging the issue is about "recognizing that some wounds never properly healed".