Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has questioned Australian skipper Pat Cummins’ claim that he was unaware of the use of sandpaper during the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, arguing that an experienced fast bowler would immediately recognise signs of deliberate damage to a cricket ball.
Speaking in a video posted on social media from Melbourne on Saturday, the legendary left-arm pacer said marks caused by sandpaper were noticeably different from the scratches produced through normal wear during a cricket match.
“As a bowler, I’ll have a look at the ball and know straight away something is not right,” Wasim said.
“He said he didn’t know (about the use of sandpaper). As a bowler, when the cricket ball comes into my hand, whether it’s the fifth over, the tenth over or the fiftieth over, you look after the ball, you shine one side of the ball. But the sandpaper scratch is totally different than the one-bounce scratch.”
Wasim, widely regarded as one of cricket’s greatest fast bowlers and a master of reverse swing, explained that bowlers routinely examine and maintain the condition of the ball throughout an innings.
He argued that the distinctive scratches produced by sandpaper would be difficult for an experienced bowler to overlook.
The former Pakistan captain suggested that the difference could be demonstrated through a simple experiment involving a relatively new cricket ball.
He said rubbing sandpaper against the ball would produce marks clearly distinguishable from those caused by its natural contact with the pitch or outfield.
Despite questioning Cummins’ explanation, Wasim stressed that he was not taking sides in the controversy and described the Australian captain as “a very close friend”.
His comments came after the 2018 ball-tampering scandal resurfaced following allegations made by former Australian opener Usman Khawaja in his autobiography Sabr.
Khawaja claimed that knowledge of the plan to alter the condition of the ball was widespread within Australia’s dressing room during the team’s tour of South Africa, including among members of the bowling attack.
The scandal, which became one of the most controversial episodes in Australian cricket history, erupted during the third Test against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town in March 2018.
Television cameras captured Australian batter Cameron Bancroft using sandpaper to tamper with the ball in an attempt to alter its condition.
The incident led to disciplinary action against several senior Australian players, including then-captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Bancroft, who received suspensions for their roles in the controversy.
Cricket Australia subsequently conducted a broader review of the national team’s culture and conduct following the incident.
However, Cummins strongly rejected Khawaja’s recent allegations during an extended press conference in Sydney on Friday.
The Australian captain described the claims as “100 per cent wrong” and “complete and utter nonsense”, maintaining that he had no knowledge of the sandpaper plan.
Wasim’s remarks have added another prominent voice to the renewed debate over how widely the ball-tampering operation was known within the Australian team.
While stopping short of directly accusing Cummins of involvement or prior knowledge, the former Pakistan captain maintained that the physical evidence of sandpaper damage would have been readily apparent to a bowler accustomed to inspecting and maintaining the cricket ball.