Cricket Australia Dismisses Calls to Reinvestigate 2018 Ball-Tampering Scandal

No Reopening of Sandpapergate Investigation, Says CA CEO

Melbourne, Australia - November 10: Todd Greenberg, the Chief Executive Officer of Cricket Australia (CA), has stated that there is "no compelling reason" to revisit the investigation into the 2018 Sandpapergate incident that occurred during Australia's tour of South Africa. This comes in light of recent comments made by Usman Khawaja and David Warner, who have reignited discussions surrounding the controversy.

In the lead-up to the release of his autobiography titled 'Sabr', Khawaja claimed that the entire Australian team, including both players and support staff, was complicit in the ball-tampering scandal. He emphasized that the responsibility was shared among the team, contrasting with Cricket Australia's earlier findings that primarily implicated Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft. Khawaja expressed his hope that the truth would come to light over the past eight years and aimed to ensure that the blame did not rest solely on the three players.

Warner later supported Khawaja's assertions through a social media post.

During an interview on SEN Radio, as reported by a sports media outlet, Greenberg reiterated, "There is absolutely no benefit in going back. That is the clear position of the CA board. We need to focus on the future, as this matter was resolved under previous leadership in 2018. Second-guessing past decisions or reassessing them with hindsight is not something we wish to pursue."

Khawaja's autobiography not only called for collective accountability from the Australian team but also indicated that Warner, Smith, and Bancroft were not the only ones aware of the sandpaper's use. He revealed that the team had utilized sandpaper during the second Test in Gqeberha before being caught in Cape Town during the third Test.

Interestingly, Khawaja mentioned that he was never interviewed during the investigation, despite being present next to Bancroft during the Cape Town Test. Warner, in his supportive statement, affirmed that Khawaja's account was "100 percent accurate."

Chadd Sayers, who was part of the Australian squad during the Cape Town Test and played in Johannesburg after the suspensions, confirmed on Channel 7 that Khawaja's statements were indeed accurate.

Reports suggest that another player from the Cape Town team corroborates Khawaja's perspective. However, CA has maintained that they are satisfied with the findings from the 2018 investigation, despite the fact that none of the executives or board members from that time are currently with the organization.

Greenberg, who was not part of CA in 2018 but served as CEO of the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) from 2020 to 2025, has engaged with many participants from the Cape Town Test and reviewed the full transcripts of the investigation.

On Tuesday, Greenberg mentioned that while he had not read Khawaja's book, he had received a call from him regarding it. He reiterated that the investigation would not be reopened, stating, "We are comfortable with the outcome of the investigation based on the information we have received, including what Usman has shared, and our stance remains unchanged. I see no compelling reason to revisit this matter, as I believe nothing can be gained from it."

Furthermore, Greenberg indicated that he had spoken to other players from the Cape Town dressing room over the weekend, and their accounts differ from Khawaja's.

"I can assure you that many players have a very different version of events, and they have consistently made that clear since 2018," Greenberg stated. "While I understand the desire to close this chapter of Australian cricket, it seems unlikely to happen."

He also confirmed that Australian captain Pat Cummins would address the issue in the coming days, as he was one of the players involved in the controversial Test. Additionally, Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Marsh, who also participated in the Cape Town Test, are scheduled for media appearances soon.

"You will undoubtedly hear from Pat and other players in the coming days or weeks. While there is a call for the truth, I believe the bowlers have remained consistent in their statements since the original investigation in 2018," he concluded.