Usman Khawaja’s Sabr reignites debate over 2018 Sandpapergate in South Africa

Usman Khawaja has reopened debate over the March 24, 2018 Sandpapergate ball‑tampering scandal in South Africa with revelations in his new book Sabr, released on Tuesday (November 10, 2026). His account challenges aspects of Cricket Australia’s original inquiry and has provoked responses from officials, former players and the media.

On March 24, 2018, television footage showed Cameron Bancroft scuffing the ball with a piece of yellow sandpaper during a Test between Australia and South Africa, and Bancroft later hid the sandpaper inside his trousers when cameras caught him. Captain Steve Smith admitted the ball‑tampering strategy had been devised earlier, Darren Lehmann resigned towards the end of the series, Smith and vice‑captain David Warner received 12‑month bans, and Bancroft was suspended for nine months.

Khawaja’s book asserts that talk of altering the ball was more widespread in the dressing room than Cricket Australia’s investigation concluded and argues the whole team should be held responsible. It says “open, lighthearted discussions” were held during the South Africa series about ways to scuff up the ball, including by using sandpaper. In a television interview Khawaja declined to confirm whether Captain Patt Cummins and Australia’s bowlers had prior knowledge that sandpaper was being used, and he referred to Cummins and Mitchell Starc as his good friends. “I’m not here to go on a witch hunt, all I’ve ever wanted is for us to take accountability as a team and I don’t think that’s a lot to say,” he said in the interview.

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said players held “very different views” to Khawaja’s version of events and offered a longer statement on why CA would not reopen the matter. “There are ‌specific details in his book that contradict the versions that have been provided by others,” Greenberg said. “But we have said we’re comfortable with the ‌outcome of the investigation based on the information we’ve received. That includes what ‌we’ve ⁠seen from Usman, and our position hasn’t changed on that. We don’t ⁠see any compelling reason to open the investigation or revisit this again, I don’t think there’s anything that can be gained from that, Greenberg stated.”

Fast bowler Mitchell Starc denied any prior knowledge of a plan to tamper with the ball during the 2018 tour and reiterated the bowlers’ position from a 2021 statement. “I haven’t really paid much attention to be fair, obviously ‌there’s differing opinions of eight years ago,” Starc told reporters in Sydney. “We were heavily ‌drilled ⁠through the process at the time, and since and I guess I won’t ⁠speak on behalf of the bowlers, but where I stand, my opinion hasn’t changed. My recollection hasn’t changed from what we said in 2021,” he said.

David Warner, who retired from international cricket more than two years ago, posted a video on social media backing Khawaja’s account and criticising the original investigation as flawed. “It’s been eight years since I spoke on this topic. Uzzy, I throw my full support behind you. I thank you for what you’ve done,” Warner said in the video. “Now everyone knows the truth. It’s out there. People wanted to know it. You’ve come out and said it.”

Australian media reaction included editorials in two major newspapers calling on Cricket Australia to take action and The Australian urging Captain Patt Cummins to break his silence. Local outlets reported on Wednesday (November 11, 2026) that Khawaja had cancelled events to promote his book after the television interview in which he would not confirm whether Australia’s bowlers were involved.

Khawaja’s revelations also prompted a public exchange between Darren Lehmann and former England match referee Chris Broad. Lehmann dismissed the claims and said he was unaware of the discussions and that responsibility may have varied from player to player. Broad responded: “Darren Lehmann surely knew all about it,” Broad said on Track Radio, as quoted by Fox Sports. “And if he did not, he should not have been the coach at the time. I think he has got away lightly … OK, he left his job a few months later, but he did not get any sanctions.”

Cricket Australia has said it will not reopen the Sandpapergate investigation, and Khawaja’s autobiography Sabr was released on Tuesday (November 10, 2026).