Former Australian Test batsman Usman Khawaja has defended his comments about the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal, insisting he did not intend to implicate individual teammates when he suggested the entire Australian side shared responsibility for the ball-tampering controversy.
Khawaja revived debate over the scandal on Saturday ahead of the release of his autobiography, which includes a chapter examining the incident during Australia’s Test series against South Africa.
The controversy originally resulted in suspensions for Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft after Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball during the Cape Town Test.
In his latest account, Khawaja suggested responsibility extended beyond the three sanctioned players and alleged that similar tactics had been used during the preceding Test in Port Elizabeth.
“It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us,” he said.
His remarks prompted a response from former Australian head coach Darren Lehmann, who denied that knowledge of the ball-tampering plan was widespread.
Cricket Australia also defended its original investigation, saying it remained “comfortable” with findings that identified Smith, Warner and Bancroft as the only individuals aware of the scheme.
Addressing the controversy in a lengthy Instagram statement on Sunday, Khawaja clarified that his comments concerned collective responsibility rather than an accusation that every player had direct knowledge of the incident.
“When I mentioned it was all of us, that’s implying that whether we like it or not, we’re all responsible for what happened together as a team,” he explained.
“We need to take that collectively. That is all.”
He rejected suggestions that he had betrayed former teammates by reopening the controversy.
“I haven’t thrown anyone under the bus,” Khawaja insisted.
The retired batter argued that Smith, Warner and Bancroft had suffered the greatest consequences of the scandal, including public criticism, suspensions and damage to their reputations.
“These three guys (Smith, Warner and Bancroft) took the blame for all of us,” he said.
“They’re the victims … people telling them that they’re cheats, getting nailed by the crowd. Public humiliation.”
Khawaja, who retired earlier this year after playing 88 Tests for Australia, also defended his decision to discuss the controversy eight years after it occurred.
Rejecting allegations that the revelations were intended to promote book sales, he maintained that he had wanted to speak publicly about the matter in 2018, following the suspensions of the three players.
His comments have renewed scrutiny of one of Australian cricket’s most controversial episodes, highlighting continuing disagreements over the extent of responsibility for the events in Cape Town.