Bhopal:
The eight-year-old Sandpapergate controversy in Australian cricket has resurfaced following revelations in former opener Usman Khawaja’s autobiography. Australia captain Pat Cummins has strongly rejected Khawaja’s claims, insisting that he had no knowledge of any ball-tampering plan. Speaking at a press conference in Sydney on Friday, Cummins described suggestions that he was the mastermind behind the alleged plot as complete nonsense.
In his autobiography, Sabrr, Khawaja claimed that every member of the Australian team knew about the plan to tamper with the ball during the Cape Town Test against South Africa in March 2018. He also wrote that he learned about the plan while sitting near Cameron Bancroft in the dressing room and advised the batter to be careful.
Cummins said that if Khawaja meant the entire team knew sandpaper was being taken onto the field, the claim was 100 per cent false. He added that he had consistently maintained this position over the past eight years. The Australian captain also expressed personal disappointment over Khawaja’s revelations, saying they could damage the reputations of several people.
Meanwhile, David Warner has supported Khawaja and criticised Cricket Australia's investigation at the time, describing it as rushed and flawed.
The controversy erupted in 2018 after Cameron Bancroft was caught attempting to alter the ball with sandpaper during the Cape Town Test. Following the investigation, Steve Smith and David Warner were each handed 12-month bans, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension.
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