Usman Khawaja's Revelations on the 2018 Sandpaper Scandal Spark Controversy

Usman Khawaja's upcoming autobiography sheds light on the infamous 2018 Sandpaper Scandal, claiming that the entire Australian team was aware of the ball-tampering scheme. His revelations, supported by David Warner, have reignited discussions about the scandal, prompting Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg to dismiss calls for a new investigation. Despite the controversy, Greenberg maintains that the findings from the original inquiry remain valid. This article delves into the implications of Khawaja's claims and the responses from Cricket Australia.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 10, 2026, 11:54 IST

Khawaja's Shocking Claims on Ball Tampering

The notorious Sandpaper Scandal from 2018 has resurfaced, thanks to former Australian opener Usman Khawaja's startling disclosures about the incident that rocked the cricket community.

Khawaja, who concluded his international career after his final Test against England in Sydney, disclosed that the entire Australian team was aware of the plan to manipulate the ball using sandpaper during the Cape Town Test against South Africa in 2018.

In excerpts from his forthcoming autobiography titled 'Sabr' (Patience), Khawaja asserted that the awareness of the ball-tampering scheme extended beyond the three players—Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft—who faced sanctions from Cricket Australia. He emphasized that 'everyone knew' about the tactics, indicating it was a collective effort rather than the actions of just three individuals.

Cricket Australia CEO Dismisses Calls for New Investigation

Khawaja's revelations, which were supported by his former opening partner David Warner, who described Khawaja's statements as '100% accurate' and criticized the initial investigation by Cricket Australia as 'rushed and botched', have reignited discussions about the scandal.

In response to the renewed interest, Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has categorically ruled out the possibility of reopening the investigation, stating that there is 'no benefit in going back' to reassess the incident.

"There is absolutely no benefit in going back. That is the clear position of the CA board," Greenberg informed reporters.

"I think it is time we have got to look ahead, and the matter was dealt with under a previous leadership back in 2018. Trying to second-guess decisions from a previous time, or making an assessment through the prism of hindsight, is not something we want to do," he added.

Consequences of the Scandal

As a result of the scandal, Steve Smith and David Warner received one-year bans from both international and domestic cricket, while Cameron Bancroft was handed a nine-month suspension. At the time of the incident, Smith and Warner held the positions of captain and vice-captain, respectively, while Bancroft was the player caught on camera using yellow sandpaper on the ball at Newlands.

Cricket Australia Stands Firm on 2018 Findings

Further addressing the situation, Todd Greenberg reiterated that Cricket Australia sees no reason to revisit the investigation despite the recent claims.

"We have said we're comfortable with the outcome of the investigation based on the information we've received, that includes what we've seen from Usman, and our position hasn't changed on that," Greenberg, who was not part of CA in 2018, stated.

"I don't see any compelling reason to open the investigation or revisit this again. I don't think there's anything that can be gained from that," he concluded.

Greenberg affirmed that all players involved in Australia's 2018 Test squad were consistent in their statements during the original investigation conducted by Cricket Australia's integrity unit.

Since taking over as CA CEO in March 2025, Greenberg has maintained that the findings from the initial probe are valid and that the matter is resolved from an administrative standpoint.