Usman Khawaja Withdraws from Interviews Amid Ball-Tampering Controversy

Usman Khawaja has withdrawn from promotional interviews for his autobiography 'Sabr' following backlash over his claims regarding the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. The Australian Cricketers' Association has called for an end to personal attacks amid the renewed controversy. Khawaja alleges that the entire team was aware of the ball-tampering plan, while former teammate Mitchell Starc disputes these claims. The ACA emphasizes the heavy toll the scandal has taken on those involved, urging for unity and understanding. Khawaja also received support from David Warner, who criticized the original investigation into the scandal. Additionally, Khawaja has made allegations of racial abuse during the 2023 Ashes series.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 11, 2026, 23:57 IST

Khawaja's Withdrawal from Promotion

Usman Khawaja, facing backlash, has opted out of interviews to promote his autobiography. This decision comes as the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) calls for an end to the renewed controversy sparked by Khawaja's claims regarding the 2018 ball-tampering incident involving the entire team.

His book, titled 'Sabr', released recently, has reignited discussions about the infamous Cape Town Test against South Africa, where Khawaja alleges that all players were aware of the plan to use sandpaper to manipulate the ball's condition.

Claims and Reactions

Khawaja stated that former captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and opener Cameron Bancroft were unfairly scapegoated by cricket authorities, despite the supposed collective knowledge within the team.

However, Mitchell Starc, a former teammate, dismissed Khawaja's claims, reiterating his previous stance from 2021 that the bowlers were unaware of any conspiracy.

Media Interviews and Criticism

The situation escalated when Khawaja struggled to respond to inquiries about the allegations during an ABC interview. He was directly questioned about whether the frontline bowlers, including Pat Cummins, Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, were involved in discussions about ball-tampering.

When asked if current Test captain Cummins had prior knowledge of the sandpaper usage, Khawaja declined to answer, stating he was merely sharing his 'truth' in the book, which drew criticism.

Publisher's Statement

Following the backlash, Khawaja's publisher, Penguin, announced modifications to his promotional schedule but did not specify which events were affected. They confirmed that the book tour would continue, albeit with some adjustments.

"The book tour is 100% still going ahead; we’ve just had to make some adjustments this week but no major cancellation of the tour at all," the publisher stated.

ACA's Call for Unity

The ACA has chosen not to take sides in this renewed debate but has urged for an end to personal attacks on those involved, emphasizing the significant toll the scandal has already taken.

"The events of the 2018 South African tour were a low point for Australian cricket. Smith, Warner, and Bancroft paid a heavy price for what transpired, one that was disproportionate to any precedent in the sport," said ACA chief executive Paul Marsh.

Support for Khawaja

Khawaja has also received support from Warner, who has called for Cricket Australia to revisit the investigation, labeling the original inquiry as 'rushed and botched'.

In his autobiography, Khawaja also claims he faced racial abuse from a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) during the 2023 Ashes series, following a controversial dismissal of England's Jonny Bairstow.