Khawaja Says Entire Australia Team Knew About Sandpaper Plot 2026

Usman Khawaja has claimed that the entire Australia touring party knew about the sandpaper ball-tampering plot that rocked cricket in 2018. In his autobiography Sabr, Khawaja says the team used sandpaper during the second Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth, before Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera in Cape Town.

The revelation, reported by Nine newspapers, directly challenges the official finding that only three players – Bancroft, David Warner and Steve Smith – had prior knowledge of the scheme. Khawaja writes: “It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us.”

What Khawaja Claims About the Sandpaper Plot

Khawaja’s book dedicates a chapter to “sandpapergate” and is dedicated to Bancroft, Warner and Smith. He says he genuinely believed the truth would have emerged in the eight years since the scandal.

“In an ideal world, I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to be the one who comes out and talks about the truth,” Khawaja writes. “The issue is that I genuinely thought after eight years the truth would have been out by now.”

He also suggests he expected Warner or someone else to expose the full extent of the plot earlier. The claim that sandpaper was used in Port Elizabeth – a Test Australia won by 245 runs – adds a new layer to the affair, which until now centred on the Cape Town Test.

Why the Revelation Matters

The 2018 scandal led to severe sanctions: Smith and Warner were suspended for 12 months, while Bancroft received a nine-month ban. Cricket Australia’s investigation concluded that only the three players had prior knowledge.

Khawaja’s allegation, if proven, would mean the culture of silence extended far beyond three individuals. It raises uncomfortable questions about team accountability and the adequacy of the original probe.

For Australian cricket, the timing is particularly sensitive. The team has worked hard to rebuild its reputation, and Khawaja’s comments threaten to reopen old wounds just as the international season gets underway.

The Key Figures and Sanctions

The original investigation found that Bancroft used sandpaper on the ball during the third Test in Cape Town. Smith and Warner were identified as the architects of the plan.

Khawaja, a former Australia batter, was part of the touring party at the time. His decision to speak out now, ahead of his book’s release on Tuesday, ensures the story will dominate headlines for days.

What This Means for Australian Cricket

Khawaja’s claims could prompt calls for a fresh investigation into the 2018 events. Cricket Australia has not yet responded publicly to the allegations.

The story also raises questions about the pressure faced by players to conform to team culture. Khawaja’s assertion that “all of us” knew suggests a systemic issue rather than isolated wrongdoing.

For fans and commentators, the revelation is a reminder that the scandal’s full story may never be known. But Khawaja’s willingness to speak out marks a significant moment in the ongoing reckoning with that period.

What to Watch Next

All eyes will be on Cricket Australia’s response and whether other players corroborate Khawaja’s account. The book’s release on Tuesday is likely to trigger further debate. The background to this story is set out in Australia vs Bangladesh Test Cricket: Day One Live Updates. A related thread runs through Australia Cricket Squad for South Africa Tour: Labuschagne Retained. Earlier coverage in South Africa vs Australia Test: Day Five Cricket Showdown shows how the argument developed.

As the cricket world digests these claims, the focus will also turn to how the current team manages the fallout. The sandpaper scandal remains one of the darkest chapters in Australian sport, and Khawaja’s words ensure it stays in the spotlight. A closer look at the same subject appears in South Africa vs Australia Third ODI: Live Cricket Coverage. Anyone following the wider picture can start with Australia Test Cricket Schedule 2025: Bangladesh Series Kicks. The same theme surfaces in Australia vs Bangladesh Test Cricket Live Updates and Analysis, which takes a different angle.

For a deeper look at how the crisis unfolded, see our detailed account of the Sandpaper Scandal: How Australia's 2018 Cricket Crisis Unfolded, which traces the events from Cape Town to the sanctions and beyond. Context on how this played out before sits in Cricket Australia Loses $20m From Two-Day Ashes Tests.