Cricket Australia Rules Out Fresh Probe into Sandpapergate Despite Player Revelations

Cricket Australia has dismissed the possibility of reopening an investigation into the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, despite recent claims from Usman Khawaja and David Warner suggesting wider team knowledge of the plot.

Chief Executive Todd Greenberg stated on Tuesday that the organization remains satisfied with the conclusions of the original inquiry. Speaking to radio station SEN, Greenberg acknowledged discrepancies between Khawaja’s recently published autobiography and previous accounts provided by other individuals involved.

“There are specific details in his book that contradict the versions that have been provided by others,” Greenberg said. “But we have said we’re comfortable with the outcome of the investigation based on the information we’ve received. That includes what we’ve seen from Usman, and our position hasn’t changed on that. We don’t see any compelling reason to open the investigation or revisit this again. I don’t think there’s anything that can be gained from that.”

In March 2018, Cricket Australia sanctioned David Warner, former captain Steve Smith, and batter Cameron Bancroft for their roles in the incident during the Cape Town Test against South Africa.

Extracts from Khawaja’s autobiography, published in Australian media, allege that “open, lighthearted discussions” regarding methods to alter the ball’s condition—including the use of sandpaper—took place among the broader playing group during the tour.

“It was all of us,” Khawaja writes, indicating the conversations were not limited to a specific subset of players or staff.

Warner, who retired from international cricket in 2024, publicly endorsed Khawaja’s account on Monday. In a video posted to social media, he described his former teammate’s version as “100 percent accurate” and labelled the original CA investigation as “botched” and “rushed”.

The four frontline bowlers from that Cape Town Test—Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon—issued a joint statement in 2021 denying any prior knowledge of the plan. Current captain Cummins reiterated last month that he had discussed the book with Khawaja and remained unconcerned about potential repercussions, noting the matter had been addressed exhaustively years ago.

Commentary surrounding the revelations has questioned the timing of Khawaja’s disclosure, eight years after the fact, with some suggesting a motive to drive sales of his book, Sabr. Khawaja responded on social media Tuesday, rejecting any commercial incentive. “I’m very fortunate, I don’t need the money,” he wrote.

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