Former Australian opener claims whole squad knew of 2018 sandpaper scheme

In an interview ahead of the release of his autobiography, former Australian Test opener Usman Khawaja said the sandpaper used to tamper with the ball in the 2018 South Africa series was employed by the entire touring party, not just the three players who were sanctioned after Cricket Australia’s investigation. Khawaja told Nine newspapers that “it was all of us” and that the team collectively took responsibility for the incident.

Khawaja’s statements refer to two matches on the tour. The first alleged use of sandpaper occurred during the second Test in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha), where he says Cameron Bancroft volunteered to apply the abrasive material to the ball. The second alleged incident took place at Newlands in Cape Town, where Bancroft was later caught on camera handling a yellow object that was identified as sandpaper during the third Test.

Cricket Australia’s earlier inquiry concluded that only Bancroft, captain Steve Smith and vice‑captain David Warner had prior knowledge of the plan to use sandpaper in Cape Town. Smith and Warner received twelve‑month suspensions, while Bancroft was banned for nine months. Khawaja’s new claims suggest that other squad members, including himself, were aware of the scheme but were not sanctioned.

Khawaja said he dedicated a chapter of his book, titled “sandpapergate”, to the three sanctioned players and expressed disappointment that the truth had not emerged earlier. He added that discussions about the tampering took place in the dressing room after the Port Elizabeth match, and that Smith appeared to distance himself from the conversation.

The former batsman’s allegations have not been independently verified by Cricket Australia or any other governing body. The board’s investigation remains the only official record of the incident, which focused on the three players named in the sanctions.