SYDNEY: Australia Test captain Pat Cummins rejected Usman Khawaja’s Sandpapergate allegations on Friday, prompting David Warner to defend the former opener and accuse Cummins of unfairly criticising him.
Speaking at Cricket Central, Cummins denied knowing that players planned to take sandpaper onto the field during the 2018 Cape Town Test against South Africa. He also rejected suggestions that he helped devise the scheme.
“That’s complete and utter nonsense,” Cummins said.
Khawaja’s autobiography, “Sabr”, published this week, alleges that the entire Australian team knew about the ball-tampering plan. He also claims Australia used sandpaper during the preceding Test at Port Elizabeth.
Cummins disputed both the suggestion of a coordinated scheme involving him and Khawaja’s account of wider team knowledge. He maintained that his position had remained consistent since 2018.
Warner responded during Fox Cricket’s coverage before Australia’s one-day international against England in Perth.
“I still stick by Uzzie,” Warner said.
He described Khawaja’s account as truthful and accused Cummins of throwing his former teammate under the bus. Warner added that he would continue pursuing the issue until the truth emerged.
Cricket Australia’s original investigation found that only Warner, then-captain Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft had prior knowledge of the Cape Town plan. It imposed 12-month bans on Smith and Warner and a nine-month ban on Bancroft.
Khawaja disputes the finding that responsibility rested with those three players.
Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon issued a joint statement in 2021 denying they knew a foreign substance had gone onto the field to alter the ball. Starc reiterated his denial this week.
Former head coach Darren Lehmann and former batting coach Graeme Hick have also denied knowing about the plan.
Read More: Usman Khawaja Autobiography: Pat Cummins Says He’s Unfazed
During Friday’s press conference, Cummins challenged Khawaja’s recollection of urging the team to accept collective responsibility after the Cape Town Test. He said he did not remember such a discussion.
Cummins described Khawaja as a friend but criticised the memoir’s treatment of other players’ reputations. He also acknowledged that aspects of the Australian team’s behaviour in 2018 had troubled him, including its treatment of umpires and opponents.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg ruled out reopening the investigation on Tuesday. Chairman David Boon backed Cummins’ leadership on Thursday and said the board retained confidence in him.
(With additional input from ABC News, SEN and cricket.com.au.)
