Cricket Australia rejects new inquiry into 2018 ball-tampering scandal

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has ruled out reopening the investigation into the 2018 “Sandpapergate” ball-tampering scandal, despite explosive claims made in former player Usman Khawaja’s autobiography, “Sabr”.

Khawaja alleges that the entire Australian touring party, including players and support staff, was aware of the plan to use sandpaper to alter the ball during the Test series in South Africa. He further claims that the practice was also used during the second Test in Port Elizabeth before the infamous incident in Cape Town was discovered.

Former teammate David Warner has publicly backed Khawaja’s account, describing the original investigation as “rushed and botched” and stating that Khawaja’s claims are “100 percent accurate”. Conversely, fast bowler Mitchell Starc has rejected the allegations, maintaining the position held by the bowling unit in a 2021 statement that they had no knowledge of the tampering.

Greenberg stated that there is no compelling reason to revisit the matter, noting that different players hold conflicting recollections and a new inquiry would likely yield no definitive consensus.