Australia captain Pat Cummins has strongly rejected former opener Usman Khawaja’s claims that the entire team knew about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, prompting David Warner to accuse him of unfairly targeting his former teammate.
The controversy resurfaced following the release of Khawaja’s autobiography, which revisits the infamous Sandpapergate scandal during Australia’s tour of South Africa.
In the book, Khawaja alleges that the entire Australian team, including Cummins, knew about a plan to use sandpaper to alter the ball’s condition and generate reverse swing.
The scandal centred on the third Test in Cape Town, although Khawaja also claimed the tactic had been used during the second Test in Port Elizabeth.
Cummins Calls Allegations ‘Complete Nonsense’
Speaking at a lengthy press conference on Friday, Cummins said Khawaja was completely wrong if he meant that the team knew sandpaper was being taken onto the field.
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“When he says we all knew, if by that he means we knew sandpaper was going out on the field, he’s 100 percent wrong,” Cummins said.
He insisted that he had consistently denied knowing about the plan over the past eight years.
Cummins also rejected Khawaja’s suggestion that he and other players were architects of the ball-tampering scheme, describing the allegation as “complete and utter nonsense”.
A Cricket Australia investigation at the time concluded that Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were aware of the plan. All three were sent home and subsequently received bans.
Smith was removed as captain before Tim Paine took over the role, with Cummins later succeeding him.
Cummins and fellow fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and spinner Nathan Lyon had also denied knowing about the plan in a joint public statement in 2021.
Warner Backs Khawaja and Criticises Cummins
Warner, who was among the players sanctioned over the scandal, publicly supported Khawaja’s account and criticised Cummins’ response.
Speaking during television commentary ahead of Australia’s one-day international against England, Warner said he continued to stand by Khawaja and believed his account was truthful.
“I actually feel that the captain today threw Uzzie under the bus and I’m very disappointed by that,” Warner said.
He added that he would not let the issue rest until the truth emerged.
Former Australia Officials Also Deny Knowledge
Former head coach Darren Lehmann and former batting coach Graeme Hick have also denied knowing about the ball-tampering plan. Hick described Khawaja’s allegations as “absolutely false”.
Starc reiterated his position this week, saying the bowlers were unaware that anything was being taken onto the field.
Lyon, Hazlewood, Smith and Bancroft have not publicly commented on the latest developments.
Cummins Questions Khawaja’s Account
Cummins also criticised the way Khawaja presented his allegations, saying the claims could damage the reputations of several people.
“Usman is a friend, but friends aren’t casual with each other’s lives and reputations,” he said.
Khawaja had said during media appearances that he spoke to teammates in the dressing room after the Cape Town Test, urging them to accept collective responsibility rather than allowing Warner, Smith and Bancroft to become scapegoats.
Cummins said he did not remember such a conversation or any team meeting in which Khawaja made that appeal.
Cricket Australia has ruled out reopening its investigation. Chairman David Boon also assured Cummins on Thursday that his position as captain was safe.
Cummins Reflects on Australia’s Past Team Culture
Despite rejecting Khawaja’s claims, Cummins acknowledged that Australia’s team culture in 2018 had been marked by an unhealthy win-at-all-costs mentality.
He said he had disliked the way players treated umpires and opponents, describing aspects of the team’s behaviour as arrogant and ugly.
Cummins added that, as captain, he had worked to ensure the current Australian side maintained a different culture.
