Whole Australia team knew of sandpaper use - Khawaja
Former Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja claims in his autobiography that the entire national team was aware of ball-tampering tactics during the 2018 series against South Africa. This contradicts previous statements from team bowlers who denied prior knowledge of the 'sandpapergate' incident.
Why it matters
The revelation challenges the official narrative of a major sports scandal and raises questions about accountability and transparency within professional cricket.
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, 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.
The four Australia bowlers who played in that match, including current Test captain Pat Cummins, have consistently denied they had any prior knowledge of the plan.
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
Whole Australia team knew of sandpaper use, Khawaja says
‘It was all of us’: Khawaja drops bombshell on Australia's ball-tampering scandal
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