A dark chapter of modern cricket has been dragged back into the light as former Australia opening batter Usman Khawaja revealed that the entire squad was aware of the infamous ball-tampering plan in South Africa. According to extracts published in the Sydney Morning Herald and reported by BBC Sport, Khawaja stated that the use of sandpaper was an open team matter rather than an isolated act by a few individuals.

The 2018 scandal, widely known as 'sandpapergate', resulted in heavy suspensions for then-captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and batter Cameron Bancroft after television cameras caught Bancroft altering the condition of the ball during the Cape Town Test. BBC Sport reported that Khawaja, writing in his autobiography Sabr, declared that the entire team—including batters, bowlers, and staff—knew about the tactic, noting that discussions began during the preceding Test in Port Elizabeth.

Background

BBC Sport noted that the revelations challenge the narrative maintained by the four Australian bowlers who played in that match—Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon. In 2021, the quartet issued a joint statement maintaining that they "did not know a foreign substance was taken on to the field." Khawaja wrote that during open dressing room discussions at St George's Park in Gqeberha, captain Steve Smith essentially threw his hands in the air and stated he did not want to know about the developments, as cited by BBC Sport.

Despite the widespread fallout that saw punishments meted out exclusively to batters Smith, Warner, and Bancroft, Khawaja expressed surprise that he was never questioned during Cricket Australia's official investigation. BBC Sport reported that Cameron Bancroft had previously suggested in a 2021 interview with the Guardian that it was self-explanatory whether the bowlers knew, prompting the bowlers to reiterate their innocence in their joint statement.

Why it matters

For sports followers in Pakistan and across the international cricketing community, transparency, accountability, and the integrity of competition remain central concerns. Allegations that core members of a national squad held collective knowledge of rule-breaking actions highlight ongoing debates regarding internal governance, team culture, and the thoroughness of official inquiries in professional sports administration.