Usman Khawaja Defends Sandpaper Revelations in New Memoir
I haven’t thrown anyone under the bus,
Usman Khawaja said as he defended the timing of new ball-tampering revelations in his upcoming memoir, Sabr, according to The Guardian. Extracts from a book claim an Australian player applied sandpaper to a ball in the changeroom in the second Test against South Africa at St George’s Park in 2018.
Khawaja maintained in a five-minute Instagram video that the entire team shared responsibility for the incident. He claimed that David Warner, Steve Smith, and Cameron Bancroft took the full weight of public humiliation while others escaped scrutiny. These three guys took the blame for all of us. They’re the victims … people telling them that they’re cheats, getting nailed by the crowd,
Khawaja stated in the footage reported by The Guardian.
Inside the 2018 Cover-Up and 2021 Push for Collective Accountability
According to extracts from Sabr releasing on Tuesday, teammates noticed how scuffed up the ball became during the St George’s Park Test, after which Bancroft volunteered to use the sandpaper. Khawaja alleged that a member of Australia’s coaching staff encouraged Bancroft to ramp up the tactics before cameras caught the player in the subsequent Cape Town Test.
Khawaja revealed he attempted to go public with these details immediately after the 2018 suspensions were handed down. He stated that he told Steve Smith he was going to come clean to the media, but Smith talked him out of it to protect the team. In 2021, Khawaja made another push for collective responsibility by speaking extensively with then-coach Justin Langer and Todd Greenberg, who was then CEO of the players’ union before becoming boss of Cricket Australia. That effort stalled when a public statement from the Australian bowlers denied any knowledge of foreign substances.
Cricket Australia Maintains Findings as Bowlers Deny Knowledge
Cricket Australia has maintained it remains comfortable with its original 2018 findings, which concluded that only Warner, Smith, and Bancroft possessed prior knowledge of the plan. Meanwhile, bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon have consistently distanced themselves from the event, maintaining they were unaware of any foreign substance being taken onto the field.
Khawaja explained that he delayed publishing his book until after Australia’s Test tour of South Africa concluded last month to avoid disrupting the active squad. I didn’t know how to do it because I was still in the team,
Khawaja said, adding that he kept silent out of a desire to put the team first while he was still playing.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Sandpaper Book Claims
When is Usman Khawaja’s memoir Sabr scheduled for release?
The memoir Sabr is scheduled for release on Tuesday, featuring detailed claims regarding the 2018 South African Test series.
Who does Usman Khawaja claim knew about the ball-tampering tactics?
Khawaja claims that the entire Australian team knew about the ball-tampering, asserting that Smith, Warner, and Bancroft unfairly took the blame for actions known across the squad.
What was Cricket Australia’s official response to the 2018 investigation?
Cricket Australia maintained that its original findings determined only Warner, Smith, and Bancroft were aware of the sandpaper plan, while the team’s bowlers denied any knowledge of foreign substances.
More on Usman Khawaja
Related reading