Usman Khawaja makes explosive claim on 2018 sandpaper scandal, says entire Australian team knew about ball-tampering

Former Australia opener Usman Khawaja has reignited the infamous 2018 ball-tampering controversy, claiming that the entire Australian dressing room knew about the use of sandpaper during the South Africa tour. Khawaja has also questioned Cricket Australia's investigation, alleging that he was never interviewed despite sitting next to Cameron Bancroft during the Newlands Test.

Former Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has made a sensational revelation about one of the darkest chapters in Australian cricket history. Ahead of the release of his autobiography Sabr, Khawaja has claimed that ball-tampering during Australia's 2018 tour of South Africa was not limited to three players, insisting that the entire team was aware of what was happening.

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The controversy erupted during the third Test between Australia and South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town in March 2018, when television cameras caught Cameron Bancroft using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball.

At the time, Cricket Australia's investigation found that David Warner had devised the plan, Bancroft had carried it out, while then-captain Steve Smith knew about it but failed to prevent it.

However, Khawaja's latest comments have brought fresh attention to the incident and raised questions about the extent of knowledge within the Australian dressing room.

'It was all of us': Khawaja's big revelation

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald ahead of his autobiography's release, Khawaja claimed that responsibility for the incident should have been shared by the entire Australian team rather than just the three players who were punished. "It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us," Khawaja said.

The former Australia opener explained that he had expected someone to reveal the complete truth over the years. However, after waiting nearly eight years, he decided to speak publicly about his version of events. "In an ideal world, I don't want to do this. I don't want to be the one who comes out and talks about the truth. The issue is that I genuinely thought after eight years the truth would have been out by now," he added.

Khawaja also said that he had consistently believed the team should collectively accept responsibility for the scandal.

Khawaja questions Cricket Australia's investigation

One of the biggest claims made by Khawaja concerns Cricket Australia's investigation into the ball-tampering incident. The former opener alleged that he was never interviewed by the investigators, despite sitting next to Cameron Bancroft throughout the Newlands Test.

"I was sitting next to Cam Bancroft that whole Test match, and I didn't get interviewed," Khawaja said. He further suggested that investigators may have avoided speaking to him because they knew he wanted the team to take collective responsibility.

Khawaja's comments have once again raised questions about the scope of Cricket Australia's investigation and whether everyone with potentially relevant information was questioned.

What happened in the 2018 sandpaper scandal?

The ball-tampering controversy broke during the third Test between Australia and South Africa at Newlands in March 2018. Cameron Bancroft was caught on television cameras using sandpaper to rough up the cricket ball in an attempt to generate reverse swing.

Following an investigation, Cricket Australia handed down severe punishments:

Steve Smith: 12-month suspension from international and domestic cricket.

David Warner: 12-month suspension from international and domestic cricket, along with a lifetime leadership ban at the time.

Cameron Bancroft: Nine-month suspension.

Smith and Warner returned to international cricket during the 2019 ODI World Cup, while Bancroft also returned after completing his suspension.

Warner's lifetime leadership ban was overturned in 2024, while Smith later returned to leadership duties and became Australia's Test vice-captain.

Khawaja also raises questions about previous test

In another significant revelation, Khawaja has alleged that sandpaper was used during the second Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha, before the Newlands incident came to light.

He also suggested that Australia were attempting to keep up with South Africa's ability to generate reverse swing. Khawaja claimed that his autobiography would reveal more about what he had heard regarding the South African team's methods.

Former South African captain Faf du Plessis had also faced sanctions on two occasions for ball-tampering-related incidents, including during a Test against Australia.

Cricket Australia stands by its findings

Cricket Australia has maintained its position on the investigation despite Khawaja's latest allegations. The governing body said it remained comfortable with the findings of its inquiry and maintained that all relevant information presented to it had been properly considered.

Questions about the Australian bowlers' knowledge of the incident had also resurfaced in 2021 after Bancroft suggested that their awareness was "self-explanatory".

However, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon issued a joint statement denying that they knew a foreign substance had been taken onto the field to alter the ball.

Khawaja's International Career

Khawaja announced his retirement from international cricket during the 2025-26 Ashes series. He finished his international career with 6,229 runs in 88 Test matches, including 16 centuries. He also represented Australia in 40 ODIs and nine T20 Internationals.