A fresh debate has erupted after eight years over Australian cricket’s much-discussed ball-tampering controversy. Former Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has claimed in his upcoming autobiography ‘Sabr’ that the entire team knew about the plan to tamper with the ball during the 2018 tour of South Africa. According to him, it was not right to hold only Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft responsible in the matter.
Khawaja said the team’s batters, bowlers and support staff were aware of it. He also claimed that before the Cape Town Test, during the second Test played in Port Elizabeth, there was open discussion in the dressing room about damaging the surface of the ball. According to him, Bancroft used sandpaper for the first time in that match. Khawaja said that during the discussion, then captain Steve Smith allegedly distanced himself by saying that he did not want to know anything about it.
During the Cape Town Test in March 2018, Bancroft was caught on camera trying to alter the condition of the ball with sandpaper. After this, Cricket Australia banned Smith and Warner for 12 months each and Bancroft for nine months.
Former coach Darren Lehmann has disagreed with Khawaja’s claim. He said he did not think all members of the team knew about the use of sandpaper. Cricket Australia has also maintained confidence in the findings of its 2018 investigation. Meanwhile, the team’s bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon have already denied having knowledge of the plan.
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