Former Australia batter Usman Khawaja has claimed that the entire Australian team knew about the use of sandpaper to tamper with the ball during the 2018 Cape Town Test against South Africa, contradicting the official narrative that blamed three players.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Khawaja said the cheating was known across the whole squad, not just by Cameron Bancroft, David Warner and Steve Smith, who were punished for their roles in the incident.
Khawaja says whole team was involved
“It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us,” Khawaja told the Sydney Morning Herald. “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. The issue is that I genuinely thought after eight years the truth would have been out by now.”
TV cameras caught Bancroft using sandpaper to help generate reverse-swing during the third Test. Bancroft served a nine-month ban, while captain Smith and vice-captain Warner were banned for a year.
The rest of the team denied any knowledge of the cheating. In 2021, bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon released a statement rejecting questions about their integrity.
Cricket Australia responds to claims
A spokesperson for Cricket Australia told the Press Association: “There has been a great deal of speculation in the eight years since the 2018 Cape Town Test, including extensive media coverage throughout last month’s series in South Africa.”
“During this time there has been the ongoing opportunity to present any relevant information, and this remains the case. All relevant information presented to CA to date has been properly considered and we remain comfortable with the findings of our integrity process.”
Khawaja criticises investigation process
Khawaja also criticised Cricket Australia’s decision not to interview him during the investigation. “I was sitting next to Cam Bancroft that whole Test match, and I didn’t get interviewed,” he said. “I thoroughly feel that I didn’t get interviewed because they knew that I wanted to take it as a team, because they knew I was ready to tell the truth if I was interviewed.”
“And I was waiting for my phone to ring. It just never rang, and then the penalties were given, and I couldn’t believe it.”
Khawaja, who played 88 Tests for Australia, has detailed his account in his new autobiography, Sabr. He said he wanted the entire team to accept responsibility at the time, rather than letting Bancroft, Smith and Warner shoulder the blame alone.
“Even in the change rooms when I was talking to them after the game, I said, ‘Take this as a team. We did this as a team’,” he added. “I’m not doing this for any other reason than I think it’s the right thing to do. I’ve always felt like there’s more to life than just cricket, and these guys, in some respect, deserve that justice. And it just doesn’t feel like anyone’s going to give it to them.”
