Khawaja denies blaming others in Sandpapergate ball‑tampering scandal
Usman Khawaja says he has not thrown anyone under the bus regarding the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal
In Brief
- •Usman Khawaja says he has not thrown anyone under the bus regarding the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal
- •He claims he waited to speak because he wanted to come clean in 2018 but was persuaded not to
- •Khawaja states that the three banned players—Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft—took the blame and are the victims
- •He has spoken with the banned players and promised Warner he would share his side of the story
- •The scandal involved scuffing the ball with sandpaper during a 2018 Test in Cape Town, leading to bans and an integrity crisis
Why It Matters
The Sandpapergate incident exposed a serious breach of cricketing integrity, undermining public trust in the sport and prompting Cricket Australia to overhaul its governance and disciplinary processes. Khawaja’s statements could reshape narratives around responsibility and accountability within the Australian team, influencing how future scandals are handled and how players are perceived by fans and sponsors.
Key Details
- Scandal name
- Sandpapergate
- Year of incident
- 2018
- Players banned
- Steve Smith, David Warner, Cameron Bancroft
- Khawaja's retirement
- January 2026
- Book excerpt released
- November 2026
Original Reporting & Sources
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