Khawaja Reopens Australia’s Sandpapergate Debate

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Former Australia opener Usman Khawaja has challenged Cricket Australia’s account of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, saying the entire team knew about the plan, rather than only the three players identified by the original investigation. The scandal, known as “Sandpapergate,” occurred during a Test in Cape Town. Captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were sent home, and Cricket Australia found they were the only players with prior knowledge. Smith received a one-year ban and lost the captaincy, Warner was suspended for 12 months and stripped of leadership roles, and Bancroft received a nine-month ban. Coach Darren Lehmann was cleared of direct involvement but resigned soon after the series. Khawaja, who retired after 88 Tests, told The Sydney Morning Herald that “all of us” knew. He said he had urged teammates in the dressing room after the Cape Town Test to accept collective responsibility instead of allowing Smith, Warner and Bancroft to become scapegoats. Khawaja said he had expected someone to disclose more of the truth during the eight years since the incident, and that he did not want to be the person to speak publicly about it. He is due to publish an autobiography with a chapter on the scandal. According to the newspaper’s account of the book, discussions about roughing up the ball also took place during the previous Test at Port Elizabeth, now called Gqeberha. The discussions allegedly led to the discovery that sandpaper could be used effectively. Smith allegedly then distanced himself from the plan, while Bancroft allegedly volunteered to use sandpaper in South Africa’s first innings. Several bowlers, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, had publicly denied in 2021 that they knew about the scheme. Cricket Australia said it remained comfortable with the findings of its original integrity investigation, while remaining open to relevant new evidence.

Former Australia opening batter Usman Khawaja has reignited debate about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, claiming in his new autobiography, Sabr, that the entire Australian team knew what was happening. Khawaja says the use of sandpaper was not limited to Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith and David Warner, and that the tactic had been used before the Cape Town Test where Bancroft was caught on camera trying to alter the ball to encourage reverse swing. He argues that the team should have accepted collective responsibility, but says the three players who received bans were instead left to bear the consequences. Khawaja also says he expected someone else to tell the full story during the years since the scandal. The incident, known as “Sandpapergate”, led to bans for Smith, Warner and Bancroft. Coach Darren Lehmann resigned, although he was cleared of direct involvement. In 2021, the four bowlers in the Cape Town match—Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon—said they did not know a foreign substance had been taken onto the field. Bancroft had previously suggested in an interview that the bowlers’ awareness was self-evident. Lehmann rejected Khawaja’s claim that everyone knew, arguing that awareness of ball-tampering as a general practice did not mean players knew how it was being carried out or who was involved. He said he could speak only for what he knew, and acknowledged that the team had paid a heavy price. Cummins said Khawaja had given him advance notice that he was writing a book, adding that the investigations had already been completed and questions answered repeatedly. Cricket Australia said it remained comfortable with the findings of its integrity process. The organization noted that there had been extensive speculation and media coverage since the 2018 Test, and said relevant information could still be presented. Khawaja retired from international cricket after Australia’s 4-1 Ashes defeat to England the previous winter.