More than eight years after the Sandpapergate scandal rocked Australian cricket, former cricketer Usman Khawaja\u2019s new book Sabr<\/i> has reignited the controversy, raising questions about how much the team was aware about the ball-tampering plot. The revealing insights about the controversial episode of cricket has triggered a series of subsequent debates and discussions.<\/p>\n
Khawaja\u2019s account suggests that discussions about tampering the ball were more widespread within the Australian dressing room than Cricket Australia\u2019s (CA) investigation established.<\/p>\n
However, Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg stated on Tuesday (November 10, 2026) about \u201cno compelling reason\u201d for another investigation. Meanwhile, editorials in two major newspapers in Australia have called on CA to take action while The Australian<\/i> newspaper urged Captain Patt Cummins to break his silence in the matter.<\/p>\n
Subsequently, Khawaja has cancelled events<\/a> to promote his new book, local media reported \u200con Wednesday (November 11, 2026), after an awkward TV interview in which he refused to confirm \u200bwhether Australia\u2019s bowlers were involved in the 2018 ball-tampering plot in South Africa.<\/p>\n On March 24, 2018, a major cricket cheating controversy unfolded during a Test match between Australia and South Africa. A television broadcast displayed Australian batter Cameron Bancroft scuffing the cricket ball with a piece of yellow sandpaper. Later, the admission by skipper Steve Smith that ball-tampering strategy was devised earlier, setoff debate on \u2018laxity of disciplinary measures in the international cricket\u2019.<\/p>\n During the match, Bancroft hid the the sandpaper inside his trousers upon realising that television cameras have caught his actions.<\/p>\n The action led to a 12-month ban against Captain Steve Smith and Vice-Captain David Warner. While, Bancroft was suspended for nine months for his involvement in the act, and coach Darren Lehmann resigned towards the end of the series.<\/p>\n The former Australian cricketer mentioned<\/a> that that knowledge of the plan to manipulate the ball was not confined to those three players and that \u200cthe whole team should be held responsible. Further, it said, \u201copen, lighthearted discussions\u201d were held during the South Africa series about ways to \u200bscuff up the ball, \u200cincluding by using sandpaper.<\/p>\n In a interview to an Australia-based television channel, Khawaja dodged the questions on whether captain Cummins and his fellow bowlers had prior knowledge that \u2060sandpaper was being used to change the condition of the ball. He referred to him and Mitchell Starc as his good friend.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not here to go on a witch hunt, all I\u2019ve ever wanted is for us to take accountability as a team and I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a lot to say,\u201d he mentioned in the interview.<\/p>\n Fast bowler Mitchell Starc denied on Tuesday (November 10, 2026) any prior knowledge of Australia\u2019s plot to tamper with the ball \u200cduring the 2018 tour of South Africa, as Cricket Australia boss Todd Greenberg \u200bruled out another investigation into Sandpapergate.<\/p>\n Starc is the first of Australia\u2019s bowlers to respond to Khawaja\u2019s assertions in his autobiography and on social media that the whole team knew of a plan to manipulate the ball in order to get it to reverse swing.<\/p>\n Starc reiterated the bowlers\u2019 position from a 2021 statement that \u200cthey did not know a \u201cforeign substance\u201d had been taken onto the field to alter the condition of the ball.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t really paid much attention to be fair, obviously \u200cthere\u2019s differing opinions of eight years ago,\u201d Starc told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were heavily \u200cdrilled \u2060through the process at the time, and since and I guess I won\u2019t \u2060speak on behalf of the bowlers, but where I stand, my opinion hasn\u2019t changed. My recollection hasn\u2019t changed from what we said in 2021,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Warner<\/a>, who retired from international cricket more than two years ago, broke his silence about the scandal on Monday (November 9, 2026) to throw his support \u2060behind Khawaja.<\/p>\n In a video posted on social media, Warner described his former teammate\u2019s account as 100% accurate and the CA investigation as \u201cbotched\u201d and \u201crushed\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been eight years since I spoke on this topic. Uzzy, I throw my full support behind you. I thank you for what you\u2019ve done,\u201d Warner said in the video. \u201cNow everyone knows the truth. It\u2019s out there. People wanted to know it. You\u2019ve come out and said it.<\/p>\n Greenberg told local radio station SEN \u2060on Tuesday (November 10, 2026) that players had \u201cvery different views\u201d to Khawaja\u2019s version of events of the 2018 tour of South Africa as described in his new autobiography, which was released on Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are \u200cspecific details in his book that contradict the versions that have been provided by others,\u201d Greenberg said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut we have said we\u2019re comfortable with the \u200coutcome of the investigation based on the information we\u2019ve received. That includes what \u200cwe\u2019ve \u2060seen from Usman, and our position hasn\u2019t changed on that. We don\u2019t \u2060see any compelling reason to open the investigation or revisit this again, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s anything that can be gained from that, Greenberg stated.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n Read More : Usman Khawaja says he isn\u2019t seeking witch hunt over \u2018Sandpapergate\u2019 scandal<\/a><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\nWhat is 2018 ball-tampering scandal<\/h4>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat does Khawaja\u2019s book reveal about Sandpapergate?<\/h4>\n
\n Also Read : \u201cIt was all of us\u201d: Khawaja reopens Sandpapergate debate in new book<\/a><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\nMitchell Starc denies prior knowledge of ball-tampering plot<\/h4>\n
\n Also Read : Cricket Australia chief says no reason to reopen probe over sandpaper-gate controversy<\/a><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\nWarner backs Khawaja, calls CA investigation \u2018botched\u2019<\/h4>\n
Why has Cricket Australia ruled out another investigation?<\/h4>\n