Whole Australia team knew of sandpaper use, Khawaja says
Usman Khawaja has reiterated claims in his autobiography that the entire Australian cricket team knew about ball-tampering during the 2018 series against South Africa. The report highlights the discrepancy between these claims and the joint denials issued by the team's bowlers in 2021.
Why it matters
The persistence of these allegations keeps the 'Sandpapergate' controversy relevant, questioning the integrity of the Australian national team's leadership.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Usman Khawaja made his Test debut for Australia against England in 2011
Usman Khawaja has claimed the entire Australia team knew about the use of sandpaper to tamper with the ball in the final Test of their 2018 series with South Africa.
In extracts of his autobiography - Sabr - published in the Sydney Morning Herald, , external the former opening batter said Australia had also used the ball-tampering tactic in the Test before the infamous match in Cape Town.
The incident - nicknamed 'sandpapergate' - was widely condemned and led to bans for captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and fellow batter Cameron Bancroft.
"It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us," Khawaja, 39, told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Usman Khawaja says every Australian team member knew about Sandpapergate ball tampering
Sandpapergate: Usman Khawaja claims whole Australia team knew about use of sandpaper to tamper with ball against South Africa
‘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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