Pat Cummins dismisses Usman Khawaja's claims about 2018 ball-tampering

Australia captain Pat Cummins has responded to accusations made by former teammate Usman Khawaja concerning the 2018 sandpaper scandal, dismissing the claims as "100% wrong" and "utter nonsense."

The controversy dates back to a 2018 Test match in Cape Town against South Africa, where Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were sanctioned for a plot to tamper with the ball using sandpaper. In his recently published autobiography, former batter Khawaja alleged that the entire Australian team, including Cummins, was aware of the scheme and should have accepted collective responsibility.

During an extensive 68-minute address to the media in Sydney, Cummins disputed these assertions. "When he says we all knew, if by that he means we knew sandpaper was going out on the field, he's 100% wrong," Cummins stated. "I said that consistently for the last eight years. I did not know that was happening. He says that I and others were architects of a scheme to ball tamper with sandpaper. That's complete and utter nonsense."

Cummins and Khawaja played 56 Tests together until Khawaja retired from international cricket in January. Their history includes playing together in the Australia XI during Cummins’ Test debut in 2011 and as domestic teammates for New South Wales. "Usman is a friend, but friends aren't casual with each other's lives and reputations," Cummins remarked. "In his book he's been casual with my life and the lives of many others - and, I think, Australian cricket. I support him to tell his story, 100%, I'm glad he feels like he can, but we have to be accountable for the things that we say and do."

In a press conference he organised himself, Cummins noted he wanted to address the matter once and for all. During the session, he covered several topics, including stating that while some of Khawaja's claims could be considered defamatory, he has no plans to pursue legal action. He confirmed having been in contact with Khawaja and Smith since the book's release, though he has not spoken to Warner.

Cummins expressed his view that the one-year bans given to Smith and Warner, along with the nine-month suspension for Bancroft, were "heavy handed." He also stated he had no memory of any ball tampering during the 2017-18 Ashes series against England. Furthermore, he noted he had consulted with Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg, who has examined the files from the initial investigation.

Regarding the presence of sandpaper, Cummins explained it was kept in the dressing room because bowlers occasionally used it during training to practice with a reverse-swinging ball. Khawaja’s allegations have reignited discussions regarding the cheating plot, the investigation, the culture of Australian cricket, and the reputations of those involved, dominating media coverage both in Australia and globally.

While Khawaja has received support from Warner and seam bowler Chadd Sayers, who was part of the 2018 South Africa squad, his claims have been rejected by former head coach Darren Lehmann, assistant coach Graeme Hick, and fellow bowler Mitchell Starc. Khawaja’s book, Sabr, alleges that a coach urged the team to find ways to swing the ball and that Bancroft was later encouraged to cheat. He also claimed he asked the team to take shared responsibility for the Cape Town incident, a request he says was rejected by two unnamed players.

Cummins stated he does not recall any suggestion that the team should share responsibility or that such a request was turned down. Addressing the idea that the team was part of a coordinated plot, he said, "There was no masterplan around using illegal methods. People assume you've gone from very legal methods to suddenly taking sandpaper, and there must have been some huge masterplan. That is not the case. There's no grand plan. There's no team meeting. There's no bowlers saying this is what must happen." He added, "There's big leaps where Usman is being vague."

Khawaja has focused attention on Cummins and his fellow bowlers Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon. These four, who formed the attack in Cape Town, have consistently denied any knowledge of the scheme, including in a 2021 joint statement.