[REVISION HISTORY]

Usman Khawaja 2018 ball-tampering allegations

10 recorded revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-11-10 10:04 UTC → 2026-11-10 20:43 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In October 2026, Australian captain Pat Cummins addressed the upcoming release of former player Usman Khawaja’s autobiography. Cummins stated he had no concerns regarding potential revelations about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, noting that the matter was extensively investigated years ago and the team had moved on. By November 2026, Khawaja released excerpts from his memoir, titled ‘Sabr’, in which he claimed that the entire Australian team and coaching staff were aware of the scandal. Khawaja stated, “It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us.” He alleged that discussions regarding roughing up the ball occurred in the dressing room during a Test in Gqeberha, suggesting the use of sandpaper was not limited to the Cape Town Test. Khawaja also noted that he was never interviewed by Cricket Australia during their original investigation, expressing regret that only Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith, and David Warner were singled out. He claimed he had urged the team to accept collective responsibility to avoid scapegoating, but added that former captain Steve Smith discouraged him from revealing the truth earlier to protect the team. He further alleged that a member of the coaching staff encouraged the behavior. Former teammate David Warner has since publicly backed Khawaja, describing his account as “100 percent accurate” and criticizing the original Cricket Australia investigation as “rushed and botched.” These claims directly challenge a 2021 joint statement from Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, who refuted any knowledge of the incident. While NSW captain Nic Maddinson questioned the timing of the revelations, Khawaja maintains he is seeking accountability and transparency. ~~In response to the allegations, Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has ruled out reopening the investigation into the 2018 scandal.~~

Versions

Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.