Usman Khawaja, the former Australian Test cricketer, has refuted allegations that he shifted blame onto his teammates regarding the 2018 sandpaper scandal. In his autobiography, 'Sabr', and an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Khawaja suggested that the entire team should bear responsibility for the ball-tampering incident during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
Background of the Scandal
During the 2018 Cape Town Test, Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball. The aftermath saw captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and Bancroft receive sanctions, while other players maintained they were unaware of the plot. Four bowlers from that match, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, are still part of the national team, with Cummins now serving as Test captain.
In 2021, the quartet issued a joint statement asserting they had no knowledge of a foreign substance being taken onto the field. Darren Lehmann, the coach at the time, also denied Khawaja's claims, telling ABC, 'I don't think everyone would have known.'
Khawaja's Clarification
In a series of Instagram videos on Sunday, Khawaja sought to clarify his comments, stating, 'You would have seen when I mentioned it was all of us, that's implying that whether we like it or not, we are all responsible for what happened together. As a team, we need to take that collectively. That is all.'
He added, 'But now that everyone's talking, am I going to deny that everyone knew? Nah, I won't deny that, either. But I never speak on behalf of anyone else in my book, contrary to what the headlines in clickbait media would have you think.'
Khawaja emphasized that the blame should have been shared among the entire setup, not just Smith, Warner, and Bancroft. 'I waited till the [South Africa] series was over. And you know what? I haven't thrown anyone under the bus,' he said. 'The guys that are currently in the team right now and the other people that were there on the South African tour, including me, we're not the victims. These three guys took the blame for all of us, and they're the victims. Yes, it was tough for everyone, including me. I had sleepless nights, too.'
Why Khawaja Waited
The 39-year-old also defended his decision to wait until his autobiography to reveal his perspective. 'You ask why didn't I say anything in those four years after that while I was still playing? You know what? I never wanted to be the first guy to chat about this,' he explained. 'Call me a chicken or whatever you want, I didn't know how to do it because I was still on the team. How was I ever supposed to bring this up when I knew some of my team-mates didn't want to talk about it?'
Khawaja retired from international cricket in January, ending a career in which he scored 6,229 runs in 88 Tests for Australia. In October, it was revealed that he had met with Cummins to discuss the contents of the book before Australia's recent Test series in South Africa, which the Proteas won 2-1.
Cricket Australia's Stance
Cricket Australia has not indicated any intention to reopen the investigation into the 2018 Newlands incident. A statement from the governing body said, 'There has been a great deal of speculation in the eight years since the 2018 Cape Town Test, including extensive media coverage throughout last month's series in South Africa. During this time there has been the ongoing opportunity to present any relevant information, and this remains the case. All relevant information presented to CA to date has been properly considered and we remain comfortable with the findings of our integrity process.'
As the cricket world reflects on one of its darkest chapters, Khawaja's revelations continue to spark debate about collective responsibility and the culture within professional sports teams.
