Former Australia opener Usman Khawaja has claimed that the entire Australian team knew about the ball-tampering plot known as Sandpapergate, a claim that conflicts with the findings of Cricket Australia's investigation. In extracts from his memoir Sabr, published ahead of its release, Khawaja also said the tactic was used in the Test before the infamous Cape Town match. Cricket Australia said it remains comfortable with its findings, while several former players have denied knowing about the plan.
What Khawaja says
Khawaja, who retired this year after 88 Tests, told an Australian newspaper that the whole squad was aware of the plan. “It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us,” he said ahead of the book's release. He said he spoke in the dressing room after the Cape Town Test, urging the team to take collective responsibility instead of leaving Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft to carry the blame.
According to Khawaja's account, talk about roughing up the ball began during the second Test at Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha. Those discussions allegedly led to the conclusion that sandpaper was effective, and Smith allegedly said he did not want to know about it. Khawaja also said Bancroft volunteered to use sandpaper in South Africa's first innings in Gqeberha, where the ball swung significantly. These details come from Khawaja's own account and have not been independently confirmed.
Cricket Australia's findings and the denials
Cricket Australia's investigation found that only Smith, Warner and Bancroft had prior knowledge of the plan to use sandpaper on the ball in Cape Town. Smith was banned for a year and removed as captain, Warner was suspended for 12 months and stripped of all leadership roles, and Bancroft received a nine-month ban. Khawaja said he was shocked that he was not asked to provide any evidence during that investigation.
Cricket Australia said in a statement that it was “comfortable” with its findings but remained open to new evidence. The board said all relevant information presented to it had been properly considered. In a joint statement in 2021, bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon said they had no prior knowledge of the plan. Darren Lehmann, who was head coach at the time, said he did not think everybody had known, and said Khawaja's claims had brought back painful memories for the families involved.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 2018, second Test at Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha): according to Khawaja's account, sandpaper was first discussed in the dressing room.
- 2018, third Test in Cape Town: television cameras showed Bancroft using sandpaper on the ball, and the incident became known as Sandpapergate.
- After the Cape Town Test: Cricket Australia banned Smith and Warner for 12 months and Bancroft for nine months.
- 2021: Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon issued a joint statement denying prior knowledge.
- November 2026: Khawaja's claims appeared in extracts from his memoir Sabr, with the full book due for release the following week.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Usman Khawaja ka kehna hai ke 2018 ke Sandpapergate scandal mein poori Australian team ko pata tha, jabke Cricket Australia ki tehqiqat mein sirf teen khilaari shamil paye gaye thay. Ye dawa unki kitab Sabr ke extracts mein saamne aayi hai aur abhi tak ye unka apna bayan hai. Cricket Australia apne nataij par qaim hai aur naye saboot dekhne ke liye tayyar hai. Pakistan ke cricket shaiqeen ke liye ye mamla khel ki emaandari aur zimmedari ke sawal ko phir se utha deta hai.
