Usman Khawaja says every Australian team member knew about Sandpapergate ball tampering
Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja alleges in his new book that the entire Australian team was aware of ball-tampering tactics during the 2018 South Africa series. These claims contradict previous assertions by Cricket Australia and several players that only a few individuals were involved.
Why it matters
This revelation challenges the official narrative of one of the biggest scandals in modern cricket history, potentially impacting the reputations of senior players.
David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were welcomed back into the Test team for the 2019 Ashes. ( Getty Images: Nick Potts/PA Images )
Link copied Share Share article All players and staff knew about the ball tampering during the infamous 2018 Cape Town Test, Usman Khawaja has told Nine newspapers ahead of the release of his book.
In an explosive claim in his new book Sabr, Khawaja says sandpaper was also used in the previous Test in Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha.
"It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us," Khawaja told Nine newspapers.
"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."
Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Sandpapergate: Usman Khawaja claims whole Australia team knew about use of sandpaper to tamper with ball against South Africa
Whole Australia team knew of sandpaper use, Khawaja says
‘It was all of us’: Khawaja drops bombshell on Australia's ball-tampering scandal
Whole Australia team knew of sandpaper use - Khawaja
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