Former cricketers criticize Cricket Australia's handling of 2018 sandpaper scandal after Usman Khawaja's book
Usman Khawaja alleges the entire Australian team knew about the 2018 sandpaper incident, prompting former players Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton to call Cricket Australia's response a mess and warn of lingering fallout.
Usman Khawaja's memoir claims that all members of the Australian cricket team were aware of the sandpaper scheme used by Cameron Bancroft during the 2018 Test in Cape Town, not only the three players who were initially sanctioned. Khawaja says he was not questioned by Cricket Australia despite sitting next to Bancroft in the dressing room and that he urged teammates to admit responsibility before being discouraged by then-captain Steve Smith.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain described the episode as "a complete mess" on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, adding that the use of sandpaper and the subsequent cover-up reflected a failure of team leadership and oversight. He questioned why no one raised objections during team meetings and why Cricket Australia did not interview every player involved.
Former England batsman Michael Atherton, who is in Australia ahead of England's white-ball series, echoed similar criticism. He said the sanctions imposed after the scandal – bans for Smith and Warner and a nine-month suspension for Bancroft – were "hard-to-justify" and left unanswered questions that are now resurfacing. Atherton noted that the episode has damaged the perception of team unity and may continue to trouble Australian fans.
Atherton does not see a need for a new investigation, but he warned that the incident has added pressure to a side already facing a demanding schedule, including upcoming Tests against New Zealand, India, England and an Ashes series later in the year. He suggested that the team's recent on-field struggles, such as a 2-1 series loss to South Africa, indicate underlying cracks that could be exacerbated by the lingering controversy.
Australia's white-ball captain Mitchell Marsh, the only player from the 2018 Test still in the current squad, is set to address the media ahead of the first ODI in Perth on Friday. Regular ODI skipper Pat Cummins, along with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, have been rested for the series.