Cummins Rejects Khawaja's Claim That Whole Australian Team Was Involved in 2018 Ball-Tampering

Australia captain Pat Cummins has rejected Usman Khawaja's claim that the whole team was involved in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. Cummins called the idea "complete and utter nonsense" and "100% wrong" at a press conference at Cricket NSW's headquarters in Sydney, The Guardian reported.

Ball-tampering means illegally changing the condition of the ball, usually to help bowlers make it swing or reverse. The 2018 case, often called sandpapergate, involved Australian players using sandpaper on the ball during a Test in South Africa. Cricket Australia investigated and gave Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft long suspensions.

The row has been reopened by Khawaja's memoir, Sabr. In it, Khawaja alleges that more than the three banned players knew about the plans. He also writes that sandpaper was used on the ball in the Test before the Cape Town match, and he has called for "all" of the team to take collective responsibility.

Cummins said he had no knowledge of the plot. He told reporters he was "genuinely shocked" to learn that Khawaja admitted telling Bancroft to be careful when using sandpaper. He also said there was "no masterplan around using illegal methods" and "no grand plan" involving the bowlers.

Cummins did not defend the wider culture of the time. He conceded the 2018 team had a "win-at-all cost mentality" and an "ugly underbelly". Those are strong words from a captain who was not part of the original scandal, and they speak to the pressure that surrounded the side.

On the book itself, Cummins said he had received advice that some of the allegations were "probably defamatory". He said he will not take legal action. He added that he had texted briefly with Khawaja since the memoir came out.

For casual fans, the core question is simple. Who knew what, and how far does the blame reach? Cricket Australia's penalties fell on three players. Khawaja says the circle was wider. Cummins says the plan was not a team-wide scheme, while accepting that the culture around the side was wrong. Neither man has changed his account in the public statements so far, and the dispute is now about the scope of responsibility rather than the basic fact that sandpaper was used.