Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has reignited debate over the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal through revelations contained in his newly released autobiography, Sabr, raising fresh questions about who knew what during one of the darkest chapters in Australian cricket history.
The controversy has resurfaced following comments by Khawaja suggesting that knowledge of the ball-tampering incident may have extended beyond the three players who were ultimately sanctioned: former captain Steve Smith, Cameron Bancroft, and David Warner.
In recent interviews promoting the book, Khawaja stated:
“It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us.”
The comments have sparked widespread discussion within cricket circles, with many questioning whether Khawaja meant the entire team was aware of the plan to use sandpaper on the ball during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town in 2018.
While Khawaja does not directly accuse specific individuals in the book, passages reportedly suggest that discussions surrounding ball tampering were more widely known within the dressing room than has previously been acknowledged publicly.
The chapter dealing with the scandal is dedicated to the three players who received bans following the incident.
Referring to Smith, Bancroft, and Warner, Khawaja writes:
“The truth will set you free.”
According to accounts from the book, the origins of the controversy date back to the first Test in Durban, where Khawaja alleges that a member of the coaching staff addressed the team with a message emphasizing the importance of generating movement with the ball.
The revelation has added another layer to a controversy that continues to divide opinion nearly a decade later.
The original scandal resulted in lengthy suspensions for Smith, Warner, and Bancroft, while Cricket Australia launched a major review of the team’s culture and conduct. Since then, questions have persisted about whether others within the setup had greater knowledge of events than officially acknowledged.
Khawaja’s claims have already prompted responses from current and former players. While David Warner publicly supported Khawaja’s account, several members of Australia’s bowling group, including Mitchell Starc, have maintained that they were unaware of any foreign substance being taken onto the field and only learned of the incident after seeing televised footage during the match.
The renewed debate is expected to keep the Cape Town scandal in the spotlight as fans, former players, and cricket officials continue to examine one of the most controversial episodes in the sport’s history.
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