Australia captain Pat Cummins received public support from his wife Becky after strongly rejecting former teammate Usman Khawaja's claims about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. Following a lengthy press conference in Sydney on Friday, November 13, Becky shared an emotional message on social media, praising her husband's strength and leadership.
"Once again, I am beyond proud and blown away by this man's strength and leadership. This is why I married you," Becky wrote in an Instagram post.
Her message came after Cummins addressed allegations made by Khawaja in his autobiography, Sabr, which has brought the infamous 2018 Sandpapergate controversy back into the spotlight. Khawaja had claimed that the wider Australian team knew about the plan to tamper with the ball during the South Africa tour. Cummins strongly dismissed the allegations, particularly the suggestion that he and other members of the bowling group were involved in planning the incident.
Pat Cummins clarifies viral video with wife Becky
Amid the controversy, a video showing Cummins having an animated conversation with Becky went viral on social media ahead of his press conference. The footage attracted attention as speculation grew about the couple's exchange.
However, the Australia captain clarified that they were not having an argument. According to Cummins, Becky was frustrated with Khawaja's revelations rather than upset with him.
"We weren't talking, and we weren't having a spat. Becky was very frustrated and animated, and really not happy with Usman," Cummins said during the media interaction.
The Australian skipper also expressed his displeasure at having a private family moment filmed and circulated publicly. He said the presence of cameras around his family, including while he was spending time with his one-year-old daughter, was "a bit ridiculous".
Cummins calls Khawaja's ball-tampering claims 'complete and utter nonsense'
During the press conference, Cummins firmly rejected Khawaja's suggestion that the Australian team knew sandpaper was being taken onto the field during the 2018 Cape Town Test.
"When he says we all knew, if that he means we knew sandpaper was going out on the field, he is 100% wrong. I said that consistently for the last eight years. I did not know that was happening," Cummins said.
He also took issue with the suggestion that he and other players were architects of the ball-tampering plan. "He says that I and others were architects of a scheme to ball tamper with sandpaper. That's complete and utter nonsense," the Australia captain added.
Cummins acknowledged his friendship with Khawaja but questioned the impact of the claims on the reputations of those involved and their families. "Usman is a friend, but friends are not casual with each other's lives and reputations," he said.
The Australia captain described the 2018 controversy as a traumatic episode for the players and Australian cricket, arguing that the allegations should not be made casually.
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