Pat Cummins will address claims made by Usman Khawaja in his 2026 book about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that rocked Australian cricket. The allegations, detailed in Khawaja’s memoir, suggest knowledge within the team about the tampering that has not been publicly acknowledged before.
Earlier this week, Mitchell Starc responded to the same claims. He said, “we weren’t aware of things being taken on the field.” Starc added that the team saw the sandpaper used for tampering only on the big screen during the Cape Town Test match. “As far as our statement said, we weren’t aware anything was taken on to the field to be tampered with,” he said.
Starc also commented on Khawaja’s book itself. “I haven’t read it. I probably won’t read it. So that’s for Usman to elaborate on,” he said, distancing himself from the details in the memoir.
The 2018 incident involved Cameron Bancroft using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball during a Test against South Africa. Cricket Australia handed out suspensions to Bancroft, then captain Steve Smith, and vice-captain David Warner following an investigation. Khawaja was not on the field during the incident but was part of the squad and has now spoken out in his book about aspects of the scandal that have not been publicly discussed.
Cummins, who took over as Australian captain in late 2021, has so far remained silent on Khawaja’s allegations. His forthcoming comments are expected to draw attention given his position and the ongoing public interest in the scandal.
The ball-tampering scandal remains one of the most talked-about controversies in recent cricket history. It damaged the reputation of Australian cricket internationally and triggered wide-ranging debates about ethics and leadership in the sport. Khawaja’s new claims have reignited those discussions, with figures like Starc denying knowledge of any wrongdoing beyond what was publicly revealed.
Cummins’ statement will be closely watched for any new disclosures or clarifications about the events of 2018 and the team’s internal dynamics at the time.
According to The Guardian.
