Khawaja denies throwing anyone under the bus. His book excerpt says Australia’s team knew of the 2018 plot.
Former Australia opener Usman Khawaja on Sunday denied he had “thrown anyone under the bus,” a day after an excerpt from his autobiography “Sabr” claimed the entire team knew of the ball tampering in the 2018 Cape Town Test. Only captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were banned over the scandal, known as “Sandpapergate.”
In an Instagram video, Khawaja, 39, who retired in January after 88 Tests, said he had wanted to “come clean” since 2018. He said Smith, Warner and Bancroft took the blame for everyone and deserve justice, and that he had promised Warner he would tell his side. He denied the timing was a marketing ploy for the book.
Khawaja said he nearly spoke up in 2021, when bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon publicly denied knowing of the plan. He had met Cummins in October to discuss the book’s contents. Former coach Darren Lehmann, who resigned after the scandal, said Saturday he does not believe everyone knew.
Australia’s Test side returned to South Africa last month for the first time since 2018 and lost the three-match series 2-1. Discussion of the scandal and Khawaja’s book overshadowed parts of the tour.
This report draws on Reuters, Al Jazeera, BBC Sport and Yahoo Sports.