Former Australia opener David Warner has has come in support of Usman Khawaja’s claims about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, reopening one of cricket’s most controversial episodes.
Warner took to Instagram from Nepal, where he is playing in the Nepal Premier League, to say that everything Usman Khawaja has written is “100% accurate” Warner, one of the three players banned over Sandpapergate, said Khawaja’s account in his autobiography was “100 per cent accurate” and praised his courage.
Khawaja’s book claims the entire Australian team was aware of the plan. That contradicts Cricket Australia’s position that only Steve Smith, Warner and Cameron Bancroft knew of the plot. Cricket Australia has since released a statement backing its investigation.
Warner also questioned how the original inquiry was run, saying “How is that thorough investigation; it baffles me.” He said the aim was not to point fingers or reopen old wounds, but to ensure accountability and transparency. He acknowledged the personal cost, saying it had been a tough time for his family, Smith and Bancroft.
Warner and fellow batters Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were banned over the plan to rough up the ball with sandpaper during the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town.
What was Sandpapergate?
During the Cape Town Test against South Africa in March 2018, TV cameras caught Bancroft taking sandpaper to the ball and hiding it in his clothing. Captain Steve Smith, vice-captain Warner and Bancroft received lengthy bans. The scandal led to a major review of Australian cricket’s culture.
Until now, nobody else involved in the tour has ever admitted culpability.The bowling unit of Pat Cummins – now Australia captain – Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon even released a statement in 2021 denying they knew anything about the tactic.