Usman Khawaja and Darren Lehmann (Source: AFP)
Darren Lehmann has hit back at Usman Khawaja after the latter dug out the near decade-old ‘sandpapergate’ incident. An excerpt from Khawaja’s autobiography indicates that the entire Australian team was involved in the ball-tampering controversy, even though only Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith and David Warner received punishments at the time.
Lehmann, who was Australia’s head coach in that infamous 2018 tour of South Africa, denied Khawaja’s allegations and questioned the former cricketer’s decision of bringing back the ugly incident after all these years.
Darren Lehmann rejects Usman Khawaja’s ‘ball-tampering’ claims
The 2018 ball-tampering scandal, also known as the ‘sandpapergate’, was one of the ugliest episodes in Australian cricket history. After Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera tampering with the ball during Australia’s third Test against hosts South Africa in Cape Town, the cricketer was subsequently punished by Cricket Australia and the ICC.
Moreover, team captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner also received a 12-month ban by the board, while then coach Darren Lehmann stepped down from his role after the conclusion of the four-match Test series.
Lehmann has now rejected the claims made by Usman Khawaja, which indicates that the Australian party, including coaching staff members and players, were aware of the ball-tampering controversy.
Denying Khawaja’s allegations, the then Australian coach said, “I don't think everyone would have known (about the use of sandpaper). You do know ball tampering is going on because it's been happening for 150 years.”
While speaking with the ABC Sport’s Summer Grandstand, Darren Lehmann added, “It's just how it's being done, and how would you know to that extent? That's an individual case-by-case, to be fair. I can only speak to what I know, and I know ball tampering was a big part of the game of cricket. Now it is obsolete. That doesn't make it right either, but that's the case, and we paid a heavy price for that.”
Lehmann also added that the players involved as well as their families have all moved on from the incident, as he indirectly questioned Usman Khawaja for digging up past demons.
He said, “For the families and the people involved, I feel for them right now because it's taking them back to a really bad place. It's been eight years. You get to a place where you move on, and I've moved on with my life.”
What did Usman Khawaja say about ball-tampering scandal of 2018?
An excerpt from Khawaja’s upcoming autobiography “Sabr” was published in the Sydney Morney Herald in Australia.
The prolific Australia opening batter claimed that the then Australian team had also tampered with the ball in the previous Test match played in Port Elizabeth. Furthermore, he claimed that the entire visiting Australian party was aware of the scandal, even though only Cameron Bancroft, captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were punished by the board.
He said, “It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us.”
Usman Khawaja even claimed that he had urged the entire Australia team to take collective responsibility for the incident after Bancroft was caught live on camera tampering with the ball.
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