Khawaja memoir claims Australia knew of 2018 sandpaper use

In his autobiography, Usman Khawaja said the entire Australia team knew about sandpaper used to tamper with the ball in the final Test of the 2018 series with South Africa. He said discussions began in the previous Test and that the tactic was also used before the Cape Town match. The claim contrasts with a 2021 statement by four Australian bowlers, including Pat Cummins, who said they did not know a foreign substance was taken onto the field.

The next day, an extract from Khawaja's autobiography Sabr said Australia were trying to keep pace with South Africa when altering the ball in 2018. The book says sandpaper was used in the Gqeberha Test before the Cape Town scandal and that the entire squad was part of the plot. Cricket Australia says it remains comfortable with its original findings despite the new claims.

Khawaja defended the timing of his revelations that sandpaper was used in the 2018 Cape Town Test and that the whole Australian team was responsible. He said suspended Steve Smith talked him out of going public days after the incident and that he had promised David Warner to tell the story after retirement. His memoir Sabr, due Tuesday, claims Cameron Bancroft volunteered to use sandpaper and that a coach encouraged him to ramp it up.