Australia’s Khawaja Claims Whole Team Knew About Sandpapergate Plot
Former opener says every player and staff member knew about the 2018 Cape Town ball-tampering plan, but Cricket Australia stands by its original findings.
Australia – (Staff reporter/Web Desk) – Australia’s Khawaja claims the entire team knew about the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal in Cape Town. He made the statement on Saturday, and it has stirred up the cricket world again.
Khawaja, who retired this year after 88 Tests, spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald. His autobiography comes out next week, and one chapter is about this issue.
“It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us,” he said.
He also said the team used the same tactic in the previous Test at Port Elizabeth, now called Gqeberha.
Back in 2018, Cricket Australia found only three players had prior knowledge. Captain Steve Smith, his deputy David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were sent home. Smith got a one-year ban and lost the captaincy. Warner was suspended for 12 months and lost all leadership roles. Bancroft received a nine-month ban.
Bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon all denied knowing about the plan in 2021.
Khawaja said he spoke in the dressing room after the Cape Town Test. He urged the team to take shared responsibility instead of blaming three players.
“I genuinely thought after eight years the truth would have been out by now,” he said.
Former coach Darren Lehmann does not agree. He told the ABC he did not think everybody knew. He also said the claims bring back bad memories for players and their families.
According to the book, the idea of roughing up the ball first came up in the Gqeberha Test. Smith allegedly walked away and said he did not want to know. Bancroft then allegedly offered to use sandpaper.
Cricket Australia said it is “comfortable” with its original findings. However, it said anyone with new evidence can still come forward.
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