Former Australian opener David Warner has continued to support his former opening partner Usman Khawaja, who levelled a few serious allegations related to the infamous Sandpapergate in his autobiography ‘SABR’. Khawaja wrote that everyone in the team knew about sandpaper being used in the Cape Town Test, but skipper Pat Cummins dismissed those allegations as “complete and utter nonsense”. In a press conference on November 13 that lasted over an hour, Cummins claimed that he and a few other bowlers were interviewed as part of the investigation. But Warner does not recall Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc or Nathan Lyon getting interviewed. He feels that a proper investigation did not take place, terming it a ‘cover-up ’.
“As far as I am aware, CA did not interview Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc or Nathan Lyon in their 2018 investigation. If that’s correct, then how can CA push the idea that the bowlers didn’t know? It looks like they had decided who they wanted to blame from the very beginning ran a shoddy investigation to serve the purpose and now they want to maintain the false narrative that the bowlers had no idea. That stinks of a cover up,” Warner wrote in a post on his Instagram account.
Warner, then captain Steve Smith, faced a one-year ban from international and Australian domestic cricket. Cameron Bancroft, who was caught using sandpaper on the field, faced a nine-month ban. The senior duo were also ruled out for the subsequent Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Warner never got to captain Australia again after the ball-tampering saga.
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CA’s response to Warner
"As we have stated previously, all players were given the opportunity to speak at the time of the initial investigation and have had the ability to come forward with new evidence in the eight years since,” Cricket Australia said.
"Subsequently, CA has respected every player and former players right to provide their own version of events."
Warner blames Cummins for throwing Khawaja ‘under the bus’
On November 13, Khawaja also criticised Cummins for throwing Khawaja under the bus with his comments in the press conference.
“I still stick by Uzzy and what he's written in that book, because it is the truth, and I really, really support him,” Warner told Fox Sports while being on the commentary panel of ODI series opener between Australia and England in Perth.
“I actually feel for him at the moment. I actually feel that today, the captain threw Uzzy under the bus, and I'm very, very disappointed about that.”
Warner also reflected on the personal loss and the abuse the banned trio still have to face for the ball-tampering scandal.
“All three of us have paid a big price in this thing. I hadn't spoken about it in eight years, but at the end of the day, we've got to live with these consequences daily,” Warner said.
“We've been served a life punishment. When other people talk about [how] they've been affected by it, there's nothing worse for me, Steve and Cam, who have to walk out there every day and we cop abuse.
“Yes, we accepted it, but at the end of the day, my wife and I paid the greatest price. We lost a baby during that time. That's why it really hurts me the most until the truth is accepted.”
Cummins says CA CEO on same page
During the press conference, Cummins revealed that he had a conversation with CA CEO Todd Greenberg, who does not see any grounds for reopening the investigation.
"I don't like to break confidences, but I'm sure he [Greenberg] won't mind me saying, he obviously knew the book was going to come out, he revisited all the transcripts, [and said] they've been very consistent, and none of it warrants reopening it," Cummins said.
Cummins stuck to what he said eight years ago. He stands by his statement that he did not know about the illegal substance being carried to the field to tamper with the ball. Warner sees the Australian skipper’s press conference comments as ‘well-prepared’.
"Pat Cummins was very well prepared this morning. I still stick by Uzzy and what he's written in that book. It's the truth, and I really support him. I actually feel for him at the moment. I actually feel that the captain today actually threw Uzzy under the bus, and I'm very, very disappointed about that," the former opener said.
How Labuschagne, Marsh reacted to controversy
Meanwhile, Marnus Labuschagne has distanced himself from the controversy, saying he was not part of the 2018 tour.
"I don't think it's good. I mean, it's certainly not nice to see where everything's at the moment," he said after Queensland victory over Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield.
"As you said, Usman's written his book, and obviously Pat's then replied to some of the allegations and things in there. I wasn't part of that time period. I wasn't there when that was going on. I was here playing for Queensland. But like I said, I don't think anyone's enjoying seeing where it's all at the moment."
Labuschagne will continue to play domestic cricket after getting dropped from Australia’s Test squad following an unimpressive Proteas tour.
Before Labuschagne, Australia’s limited-overs captain Mitchell Marsh tried to stay away from the controversy in the pre-match press conference. He said that he intends to focus on the ODI series against England.
Marsh-led Australia handed England a seven-wicket defeat in the Perth ODI. In a relief for Australian cricket amid the sandpaper scandal resurfacing, pacer Mahli Beardman claimed a record-breaking six-wicket haul on ODI debut. Marsh scored a quickfire fifty in the run chase as Australian players endure a tough time amid controversy.
Cummins is currently gearing up for a Sheffield Shield match. Australia’s next assignment is at home, a four-Test series against New Zealand, which will prove crucial for Cummins-led side’s chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 final. Currently, Australia are placed third on the table after a 2-1 series loss to Temba Bavuma's South Africa.