In a stunning revelation that threatens to reopen one of cricket’s darkest chapters, former Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has claimed that the entire team was involved in discussions about ball-tampering during the infamous 2018 South Africa tour—contradicting Cricket Australia’s official findings that pinned blame on just three players.
Khawaja, who retired from international cricket in January after representing Australia in 88 Tests, made the explosive allegations in his newly released autobiography. According to excerpts published this weekend, the top-order batsman insists that conversations about illegally scuffing the ball with sandpaper were widespread and involved players across all roles—not just the three who were punished.
“It was all of us,” Khawaja reportedly wrote, describing the discussions as “open” and “lighthearted” throughout the South African series. He claims the conversations extended beyond batsmen and bowlers to include the entire touring party, painting a dramatically different picture from the official narrative.
The so-called Sandpapergate scandal erupted in March 2018 when cameras caught Australian player Cameron Bancroft using sandpaper to alter the ball’s condition during a Test match in Cape Town. The incident triggered a massive integrity crisis for Australian cricket and resulted in severe penalties for three players: then-captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and Bancroft himself.
Cricket Australia’s investigation at the time concluded that only those three had prior knowledge of the tampering plan. Smith and Warner received year-long bans from international and domestic cricket, while Bancroft was suspended for nine months. Head coach Darren Lehmann was cleared of direct involvement but resigned shortly after the scandal broke.
Now, more than eight years later, Khawaja’s claims directly challenge that conclusion. His allegations suggest a potential cover-up that protected other team members from scrutiny and punishment.
Cricket Australia responded swiftly on Saturday, defending its original investigation and insisting it remains satisfied with the findings. The governing body stated that all relevant information has been “properly considered” and emphasized that opportunities remain open for anyone to present additional evidence.
Current Australian captain Pat Cummins, who was among the bowlers playing in that notorious Cape Town Test, has downplayed suggestions that Khawaja’s book could trigger fresh controversy or investigations.
Khawaja himself was cleared of any wrongdoing in the 2018 probe and continued playing for Australia until his retirement earlier this year. His decision to speak out now raises questions about why he remained silent during the original investigation and throughout the years that followed.
The timing of these revelations is particularly notable given that Australia’s Test team only recently returned to South Africa for the first time since the scandal, losing a three-match series 2-1 last month. South Africa had won the original 2018 series 3-1, the same tour during which the tampering occurred.
The scandal had far-reaching consequences for Australian cricket, damaging the team’s reputation globally and forcing a cultural reckoning within Cricket Australia about the sport’s values and conduct standards.
