Former Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has reignited controversy surrounding the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal, claiming that the use of sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball was known to more members of the Australian team than previously acknowledged.
Khawaja’s revelations, included in his autobiography Sabr, challenge the findings of Cricket Australia’s original investigation, which held Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft responsible for their roles in the controversy. The claims have reopened debate about accountability within the Australian dressing room and whether the full story of the scandal was ever disclosed.
The controversy erupted during Australia’s Test tour of South Africa in March 2018, when television cameras caught Bancroft handling sandpaper while attempting to alter the ball during the third Test in Cape Town.
Khawaja Claims Sandpaper Was Used Before the Cape Town Test
According to Khawaja, the incident in Cape Town was not the first occasion on which sandpaper had been used to roughen the ball during the tour.
He alleged that discussions about manipulating the ball had taken place during the second Test at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha. In his account, conversations about ways to change the ball’s condition were not limited to a small group of players.
Khawaja claimed that Bancroft volunteered to use sandpaper during that match after the subject was discussed in the dressing room. He said the practice subsequently escalated during the Cape Town Test, where Bancroft was caught on camera handling the material.
The former Australian batter also alleged that a member of the coaching staff encouraged Bancroft to intensify his efforts. These claims have not been independently established as facts, and they differ from the conclusions of the original investigation.
Why the Original Investigation Is Under Scrutiny
Following the Cape Town incident, Cricket Australia imposed a 12-month suspension on Smith, who was captain at the time, and Warner, the vice-captain. Bancroft received a nine-month ban for his role in handling the sandpaper.
The investigation concluded that the three players had prior knowledge of the plan to tamper with the ball. Former head coach Darren Lehmann resigned in the aftermath, although he was cleared of direct involvement in the scheme.
Khawaja, who was part of the touring squad, has argued that responsibility extended beyond the three players who received suspensions. He said he had urged teammates to accept collective responsibility after the incident, believing the consequences should not fall on a small group alone.
He also suggested that the scandal had damaged the reputations of Smith, Warner and Bancroft, who faced intense public criticism.
Cricket Australia Defends Its Findings
Cricket Australia has maintained that its original investigation was conducted appropriately and that the organisation remains comfortable with its conclusions.
The governing body has said relevant information presented over the years has been considered and that individuals still have opportunities to provide additional evidence.
Khawaja’s claims, however, have prompted renewed questions about whether the original inquiry captured the full extent of what happened during the South African tour.
Former coach Lehmann has disputed the suggestion that everyone in the Australian camp knew sandpaper was being used. He acknowledged that ball-tampering had historically occurred in cricket but said he did not believe every member of the touring party necessarily knew about the specific method used in 2018.
Australian Bowlers Reject Claims of Prior Knowledge
Australia’s fast-bowling group has previously denied knowing that a foreign substance was being taken onto the field to manipulate the ball.
In 2021, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon issued a joint statement saying they became aware of the use of sandpaper only after the images appeared on the stadium’s big screen in Cape Town.
Starc reiterated that position on November 10, 2026, saying his recollection of events had not changed. He rejected Khawaja’s assertion that the plan was widely known within the team.
Warner, meanwhile, has publicly supported Khawaja’s account, describing his claims as accurate.
The conflicting accounts have added another layer to a controversy that has remained a defining moment in Australian cricket.
Scandal Continues to Shape Australian Cricket’s Legacy
The 2018 episode severely damaged Australia’s reputation and triggered major changes in how the team approached its public image and conduct.
Khawaja has argued that the fallout forced Australian cricket to confront its attitude towards winning at all costs. He believes the experience ultimately encouraged greater humility within the team.
Whether his latest revelations lead to further scrutiny remains uncertain. Cricket Australia has indicated that it sees no compelling reason to reopen the investigation, while differing recollections from former and current players continue to fuel debate over the scandal.
For now, the central issue remains unresolved: whether the original investigation captured the full extent of the knowledge surrounding the use of sandpaper, or whether important details about one of cricket’s most controversial episodes remain disputed.
