![Usman Khawaja. [Source - AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1794020223427_UsmanKhawaja.jpg?type=hq)
Usman Khawaja. [Source - AFP]
The 2018 South Africa tour was a dark time in Australian cricket. The infamous Cape Town Test brought the team global disgrace after Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper.
While Steve Smith, David Warner and Bancroft faced bans, questions about wider involvement remained unanswered. Now, Usman Khawaja has reopened the file with explosive revelations.
Usman Khawaja Claims Entire Australian Team Was Involved in Sandpaper Scandal
Usman Khawaja has challenged the long-standing narrative around the 2018 sandpaper scandal, claiming the incident wasn't limited to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, but involved the entire Australian team.
Speaking to the Nine newspapers on Saturday, Khawaja made his stance clear with a strong statement.
"It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us," Khawaja said to Nine.
Khawaja said he had always believed the team should take collective responsibility for the incident. He felt the three players were unfairly left to face the consequences alone, while others escaped scrutiny despite knowing what had happened.
Usman Khawaja's Autobiography Set to Reveal More Details About 2018 Sandpaper Scandal
Usman Khawaja is set to share his version of events in his autobiography Sabr: Finding My Way in Cricket and Life, which will be released on Tuesday. The book is expected to provide further details about the sandpaper episode.
Interestingly, Australia captain Pat Cummins recently said he had no problem with Khawaja revealing details in his book and had given him the freedom to tell his story. However, the bowling group had reacted differently to similar claims in the past.
In 2021, Cameron Bancroft hinted at the bowlers' awareness, prompting Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon to jointly deny any knowledge. Last month, David Warner also hinted at more revelations, but Starc quickly dismissed the suggestion.
Khawaja's explosive claims could now reopen the debate like never before, bringing renewed attention to the roles played by Australia's batters, bowlers and support staff while raising fresh questions about what really happened in the 2018 South Africa tour.
