Usman Khawaja pulls out of interviews after ABC 7.30 appearance on November 10

Under-fire Usman Khawaja has pulled out of television and book interviews after his appearance on the ABC's 7.30 programme to promote his book Sabr went badly on Tuesday, November 10. The interview with broadcaster Sarah Ferguson provoked widespread online criticism and prompted changes to his media schedule.

Khawaja attended the 7.30 segment to discuss his account of Australia's 2018 tour of South Africa, including revelations from Sabr about the ball-tampering scandal. The television exchange became uncomfortable as Ferguson repeatedly pressed him on controversial claims now circulating online. ABC Sport reported that Penguin, Khawaja's publisher, confirmed there would be adjustments to his book tour and interview commitments, although it did not clarify exactly which appearances had been affected.

Ferguson focused on Khawaja's suggestion that the Cape Town ball-tampering incident involved more than the three players who were punished and that knowledge extended to the preceding Test in Port Elizabeth. Khawaja declined to name individuals and emphasised he was sharing only what he had seen and experienced. He told the programme: "I'll say again, I've given my statement about what happened the game before. I was very open and honest to what I saw and what conversations I had."

The presenter raised public support Khawaja had received from David Warner and asked him what "lies" Warner had referenced; Khawaja replied, "I'm not going to speak on behalf of Davey. I've tried my best to tell my story in an open and safe environment. There's no easy way to do it, but I mean, I'm not here to inflame the situation any more." Ferguson also noted that former teammate Chadd Sayers had backed some of Khawaja's claims.

Ferguson pressed Khawaja on a 2021 joint statement from Australia's four frontline bowlers — Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon — which denied knowledge that sandpaper was being taken onto the field during the Cape Town Test. Khawaja, who wrote in his book that he was unhappy with that statement, refused to answer whether their account was incorrect, saying, "Sometimes I'm very specific on things and sometimes I'm a bit vague on things and I do it on purpose because I'm trying to tell a story," and later, "I'm just not going I'm not going to entertain that." When directly asked whether Cummins had prior knowledge, Khawaja said, "I'm not going to answer that."

Khawaja told viewers he was not seeking to start a witch-hunt or to force Cricket Australia to reopen its inquiry, and he defended his view that the bans imposed on the players were too harsh. "I'm not calling for anything. I'm literally sharing my version of the truth," he said. The article noted Smith and Warner received 12-month suspensions, while Bancroft was banned for nine months. A Cricket Australia spokesperson responded on the investigation, saying: "The three players who received bans after the Cape Town Test acknowledged their breaches and accepted the penalties imposed," a CA spokesperson said. "We have acknowledged that the investigation was conducted in a short timeframe given the impending Test match and that there are varying opinions about some matters including the length of the sanctions imposed. We respect that players have different recollections of events from this time. "But we remain comfortable the investigation's findings accurately reflect the statements and evidence provided at the time."

Ferguson also questioned Khawaja about his suggestion that racial prejudice may have contributed to him not being considered for interim captaincy in 2018; Khawaja acknowledged he had no concrete evidence and said the feeling was based on how he felt at the time. Asked about his relationship with Cummins, Khawaja replied, "I'm not sure," Khawaja replied. "But I've been friends with Pat a long time. I've told my truth and I've given my reasons at the end of the day. I think some things I've always stood for - my values and what I think is right. Yeah, there's no ideal way of doing this, but I can't speak for Pat."

Australian media reports say Khawaja has declined to take further television interviews and has cancelled several book-related interviews since the 7.30 appearance. Penguin told ABC Sport that "The book tour is 100 (per cent) still going ahead, we've just had to make some adjustments this week but no major cancellation of the tour at all," the publisher said in a statement.