Usman Khawaja claims broad awareness of 2018 ball-tampering plot
The former opener alleges that the entire Australian touring party was aware of plans to manipulate the ball during the 2018 South Africa series.
In revelations featured within his forthcoming autobiography, Sabr, Usman Khawaja has asserted that the scheme to alter the state of the cricket ball during the 2018 series in South Africa involved more than just the three players who faced official sanctions. The former Test batter stated that the entire Australian touring group possessed knowledge regarding the clandestine efforts to tamper with the ball.
Khawaja further alleged that the use of sandpaper to manipulate the condition of the ball was not confined to the infamous Cape Town incident. According to his account, the team had already utilized the abrasive material to interfere with the ball during the second Test match held in Port Elizabeth. These claims stand in contrast to the official stance held by Cricket Australia, which has maintained its satisfaction with the specific disciplinary measures handed down exclusively to Cameron Bancroft, David Warner, and Steve Smith following the scandal.
The controversy surrounding the 2018 tour remains a significant chapter in recent cricketing history, as Khawaja’s latest public statements reframe the level of internal awareness within the squad. While Cricket Australia has long closed the book on the matter, these assertions suggest a wider involvement than previously acknowledged by the governing body.