More than eight years after the Sandpapergate scandal rocked Australian cricket, former cricketer Usman Khawaja’s new book Sabr has reignited the controversy, raising questions about how much the team was aware about the ball-tampering plot. The revealing insights about the controversial episode of cricket has triggered a series of subsequent debates and discussions.
Khawaja’s account suggests that discussions about tampering the ball were more widespread within the Australian dressing room than Cricket Australia’s (CA) investigation established.
However, Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg stated on Tuesday (November 10, 2026) about “no compelling reason” for another investigation. Meanwhile, editorials in two major newspapers in Australia have called on CA to take action while The Australian newspaper urged Captain Patt Cummins to break his silence in the matter.
Subsequently, Khawaja has cancelled events to promote his new book, local media reported on Wednesday (November 11, 2026), after an awkward TV interview in which he refused to confirm whether Australia’s bowlers were involved in the 2018 ball-tampering plot in South Africa.
Read More : Usman Khawaja says he isn’t seeking witch hunt over ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal
What is 2018 ball-tampering scandal
On March 24, 2018, a major cricket cheating controversy unfolded during a Test match between Australia and South Africa. A television broadcast displayed Australian batter Cameron Bancroft scuffing the cricket ball with a piece of yellow sandpaper. Later, the admission by skipper Steve Smith that ball-tampering strategy was devised earlier, setoff debate on ‘laxity of disciplinary measures in the international cricket’.
During the match, Bancroft hid the the sandpaper inside his trousers upon realising that television cameras have caught his actions.
The action led to a 12-month ban against Captain Steve Smith and Vice-Captain David Warner. While, Bancroft was suspended for nine months for his involvement in the act, and coach Darren Lehmann resigned towards the end of the series.
What does Khawaja’s book reveal about Sandpapergate?
The former Australian cricketer mentioned that that knowledge of the plan to manipulate the ball was not confined to those three players and that the whole team should be held responsible. Further, it said, “open, lighthearted discussions” were held during the South Africa series about ways to scuff up the ball, including by using sandpaper.
In a interview to an Australia-based television channel, Khawaja dodged the questions on whether captain Cummins and his fellow bowlers had prior knowledge that sandpaper was being used to change the condition of the ball. He referred to him and Mitchell Starc as his good friend.
“I’m not here to go on a witch hunt, all I’ve ever wanted is for us to take accountability as a team and I don’t think that’s a lot to say,” he mentioned in the interview.
Also Read : “It was all of us”: Khawaja reopens Sandpapergate debate in new book
Mitchell Starc denies prior knowledge of ball-tampering plot
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc denied on Tuesday (November 10, 2026) any prior knowledge of Australia’s plot to tamper with the ball during the 2018 tour of South Africa, as Cricket Australia boss Todd Greenberg ruled out another investigation into Sandpapergate.
Starc is the first of Australia’s bowlers to respond to Khawaja’s assertions in his autobiography and on social media that the whole team knew of a plan to manipulate the ball in order to get it to reverse swing.
Starc reiterated the bowlers’ position from a 2021 statement that they did not know a “foreign substance” had been taken onto the field to alter the condition of the ball.
Also Read : Cricket Australia chief says no reason to reopen probe over sandpaper-gate controversy
“I haven’t really paid much attention to be fair, obviously there’s differing opinions of eight years ago,” Starc told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.
“We were heavily drilled through the process at the time, and since and I guess I won’t speak on behalf of the bowlers, but where I stand, my opinion hasn’t changed. My recollection hasn’t changed from what we said in 2021,” he said.
Warner backs Khawaja, calls CA investigation ‘botched’
Warner, who retired from international cricket more than two years ago, broke his silence about the scandal on Monday (November 9, 2026) to throw his support behind Khawaja.
In a video posted on social media, Warner described his former teammate’s account as 100% accurate and the CA investigation as “botched” and “rushed”.
“It’s been eight years since I spoke on this topic. Uzzy, I throw my full support behind you. I thank you for what you’ve done,” Warner said in the video. “Now everyone knows the truth. It’s out there. People wanted to know it. You’ve come out and said it.
Why has Cricket Australia ruled out another investigation?
Greenberg told local radio station SEN on Tuesday (November 10, 2026) that players had “very different views” to Khawaja’s version of events of the 2018 tour of South Africa as described in his new autobiography, which was released on Tuesday.
“There are specific details in his book that contradict the versions that have been provided by others,” Greenberg said.
“But we have said we’re comfortable with the outcome of the investigation based on the information we’ve received. That includes what we’ve seen from Usman, and our position hasn’t changed on that. We don’t see any compelling reason to open the investigation or revisit this again, I don’t think there’s anything that can be gained from that, Greenberg stated.”
Read More : Defiant Khawaja defends re-igniting ball-tampering scandal
Darren Lehmann and Chris Broad clash over coach’s role
Khawaja’s revelations have also triggered a war of words between Lehmann and former England cricketer and match referee Chris Broad.
Dismissing the claims of Khawaja, Lehmann said he was unaware of the discussions and that responsibility may have varied from player to player. Broad, however, criticised Lehmann, arguing that the former coach should have been held accountable for the incident.
“Darren Lehmann surely knew all about it,” Broad said on Track Radio, as quoted by Fox Sports.
“And if he did not, he should not have been the coach at the time. I think he has got away lightly … OK, he left his job a few months later, but he did not get any sanctions.”
Published – November 12, 2026 08:43 am IST
