Australia captain Pat Cummins dismissed claims made by Usman Khawaja about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal as “complete and utter nonsense.” The controversy, often referred to as “sandpapergate,” erupted when cameras caught Cameron Bancroft using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball during a Test match in South Africa.
Khawaja, in his recent book, suggested there were questions about how the incident was handled within the Australian camp. Cummins pushed back on these assertions in a statement this week, emphasising that the Cricket Australia investigation was the right way to respond.
“There’s a very proper way to do things and improve,” Cummins said. “I think that investigation was a proper way to do it.” He noted that everyone involved was questioned shortly after the event. “Everyone was asked in the circumstances about a game very quickly after. So that’s for CA. I think you can maybe argue whether the judgements were fair, but what can you do? I got asked all the questions, answered them all fairly. That’s my story, so I think he’s wrong.”
The captain addressed the nuances Khawaja’s claims raised. He acknowledged conversations may have taken place with Bancroft regarding the sandpaper but insisted this did not mean the entire dressing room was aware or complicit. “The details really matter in that difference. So perhaps there was conversations with Cameron Bancroft around taking sandpaper out and how to do it. That doesn’t mean that everyone in that dressing room knew what was going on.”
The 2018 incident led to widespread condemnation and sanctions against Bancroft, captain Steve Smith, and vice-captain David Warner. Cricket Australia launched a thorough inquiry, resulting in suspensions and reforms within the team and administration.
Cummins, who took over the captaincy after the fallout, has maintained a focus on transparency and rebuilding the team’s reputation. His comments come amid ongoing debates about how the scandal was managed internally and how the players involved were treated.
Khawaja’s book has stirred fresh discussion around the incident, with some questioning whether the handling and consequences were adequate or fair. Cummins’s rejection of these claims adds another layer to the conversation, emphasising the official process that followed the revelations.
The sandpaper episode remains one of the most significant controversies in modern cricket, affecting the careers of prominent Australian players and the sport’s image worldwide. Cummins’s insistence on a “proper way” and his dismissal of Khawaja’s version show the lasting tensions within the team over how that moment unfolded.
No further details have emerged regarding Khawaja’s specific allegations, but Cummins’s remarks signal a firm stance from the current leadership on the matter.
According to The Guardian.
