Usman Khawaja’s revelations in new memoir reignite controversy; David Warner backs former teammate’s claims
Melbourne, November 10: Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive Todd Greenberg has ruled out reopening the investigation into the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal, despite fresh allegations by former Australian batter Usman Khawaja that have once again brought the controversy into the spotlight.
Greenberg said Cricket Australia saw no compelling reason to revisit the matter, maintaining that the governing body remained satisfied with the findings of its original investigation conducted following Australia’s tour of South Africa in 2018.
The controversy has resurfaced following revelations in Khawaja’s new autobiography, Sabr, in which he claimed that knowledge of the ball-tampering plan extended beyond the three players who were punished. Khawaja also alleged that sandpaper had been used to alter the condition of the ball during an earlier Test against South Africa at St George’s Park in 2018, before the infamous Cape Town Test.
Speaking to Australian radio station SEN on Tuesday, Greenberg said the accounts provided by members of the team were conflicting and that reopening the investigation would not necessarily establish a common version of events.
He maintained that Cricket Australia was comfortable with the conclusions reached during the original inquiry, including the information emerging from Khawaja’s recent revelations.
The 2018 scandal, popularly known as ‘Sandpapergate’, erupted during the third Test between Australia and South Africa in Cape Town when Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera attempting to tamper with the ball using sandpaper.
Following an investigation, Cricket Australia handed lengthy suspensions to then captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Bancroft. Smith and Warner received 12-month bans, while Bancroft was suspended for nine months.
The issue has gained fresh attention after Warner publicly backed Khawaja’s account, describing the original investigation as rushed and flawed. Warner also said Khawaja’s version of events was accurate and questioned why the former batter had not been interviewed during the original inquiry.
However, Australia’s fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, along with spinner Nathan Lyon, had previously denied having any prior knowledge of the ball-tampering plan.
With Cricket Australia refusing to initiate another inquiry, the eight-year-old controversy continues to divide former teammates and remains one of the most damaging episodes in Australian cricket history.
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