Former Australian Test cricketer Usman Khawaja has made a significant revelation about the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal, claiming that the entire Australian team knew about the ball-tampering incident during the Cape Town Test against South Africa.
According to Usman Khawaja, the ball-tampering practice was not limited to the Cape Town Test, as it had also taken place during the earlier Test match played in Gqeberha.
He has shared these details in his autobiography, Unveiled, which is set to be published on Tuesday. Speaking in interviews with newspapers, Khawaja said that the incident involved not just Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, but the entire team.
He said he wanted collective responsibility to be accepted in the matter because he believed all the players in the team knew what was being done to the ball. However, action was taken against only three players, who faced prolonged criticism and difficulties.
Why was Usman Khawaja not questioned during the investigation?
Sharing another important detail, Usman Khawaja said that he used to sit with Cameron Bancroft in the dressing room during the Cape Town Test, but Cricket Australia’s investigation did not even take his statement.
According to Khawaja, he was certain that if he had been questioned, he would have told the truth. It is worth recalling that following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, Steven Smith and David Warner were each handed one-year bans, while Cameron Bancroft received a nine-month suspension.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia said in its response that it remains satisfied with the investigation conducted at the time and its findings.
On the other hand, Usman Khawaja has also accused the South African team of using unconventional methods to alter the condition of the ball. He said further details on the matter have been included in his book.
