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Khawaja: entire Australia team knew about 2018 ball-tampering

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Neutral summary

Former Australia opener Usman Khawaja has claimed the entire team knew about the ball-tampering scandal during the 2018 tour of South Africa. In his autobiography, out this week, he says the tactic was also used in the previous Test at Port Elizabeth. “It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald. A Cricket Australia investigation had found only captain Steve Smith, his deputy David Warner and Cameron Bancroft had prior knowledge; all three were sent home, banned and stripped of leadership roles. Khawaja denied throwing “anyone under the bus” and defended waiting eight years to go public, voicing disappointment in teammates unwilling to accept shared responsibility. He also said Smith talked him out of sharing blame at the time. Former head coach Darren Lehmann denied there was widespread knowledge of the plot, while Cricket Australia said it was “comfortable” with its findings. Former captain Mark Taylor said he was “disappointed” in the fresh claims, believing the discussion will “go round in circles”.

How it was framed

Outlets: 10. Countries: 8. Facts in the shared core: 6.

Publication timeline

  1. · Sydney Morning Herald (outlet profile)

    ‘It was all of us’: Khawaja blows the whistle on more sandpaper use in South Africa in 2018. Usman Khawaja’s memoir is about to be released, and contains a remarkable revelation about the Australian team’s use of sandpa…

  2. · Sky Sports (outlet profile)

    Khawaja: Entire Australia team knew about ball-tampering scandal. Former Australia opener Usman Khawaja has claimed that the side's entire dressing room knew about the ball-tampering incident in Cape Town in 2018.

  3. · Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)

    It was all of us – Usman Khawaja lifts lid on Australia sandpaper scandal

  4. · The Independent (outlet profile)

    Usman Khawaja reveals true extent of Australia’s sandpaper scandal: ‘It was all of us’. Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were suspended after the ball-tampering incident in South Africa in 2018

  5. · Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)

    Usman Khawaja insists ‘all of us’ involved in 2018 Australia sandpaper scandal

  6. · Sydney Morning Herald (outlet profile)

    Cricket Australia responds to explosive Khawaja claims. Usman Khawaja’s latest claims about the infamous 2018 ‘Sandpapergate’ series have set the cricket world alight, prompting Cricket Australia to release a statement.

  7. · Channel NewsAsia (outlet profile)

    Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja disputes findings in 2018 ball-tampering probe

  8. · Times of India (outlet profile)

    ‘It was all of us’: Khawaja drops bombshell on Australia's ball-tampering scandal. Usman Khawaja has shed light on the extent of discussions regarding ball tampering among Australian cricketers. He revealed that these c…

  9. · Sydney Morning Herald (outlet profile)

    Usman Khawaja remained silent for eight years. Why did he speak out now?. Cricket Australia, and its Test players, might look back to their failure in 2018 to honestly and broadly tell the truth about what happened at N…

  10. · Times of India (outlet profile)

    ‘No s***, Sherlock’: Vaughan's brutal dig as Khawaja reopens ball-tampering scandal. With the publication of Usman Khawaja's autobiography, the spotlight has returned to the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that shook Austra…

  11. · Al Jazeera (outlet profile)

    Khawaja claims entire Australia team knew about 2018 ball-tampering scandal. The 'Sandpapergate' scandal saw ⁠Australia scuffing the ball with sandpaper in the March 2018 test ​in Cape Town.

  12. · Dawn (outlet profile)

    Australia's Khawaja claims entire team knew about 'Sandpapergate'. Usman Khawaja claimed on Saturday that the entire Australian team knew about the 2018 “Sandpapergate” scandal in Cape Town and said they also employed t…

  13. · The Citizen (outlet profile)

    Australia’s Khawaja claims entire team knew about ‘Sandpapergate’. "It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us."

  14. · Sydney Morning Herald (outlet profile)

    Ball tapering episode reignites. Former Test cricketer Usman Khawaja declared sandpaper-gate was orchestrated by the entire team.

  15. · The National (UAE) (outlet profile)

    Usman Khawaja claims entire Australia team knew about sandpaper ball-tampering

  16. · Sydney Morning Herald (outlet profile)

    Fresh Sandpapergate claims cast shadow over summer of cricket. Usman Khawaja's bombshell claims in his new book have rocked the Australian cricket community, reopening the Sandpapergate scandal from eight years ago.

  17. · Sydney Morning Herald (outlet profile)

    Khawaja: 'I haven't thrown anyone under the bus'. Usman Khawaja discusses the reaction to his explosive claims about the ball-tampering scandal.

  18. · Sydney Morning Herald (outlet profile)

    This Australian team was already under pressure. Khawaja’s allegations could finish it off. The series defeat in South Africa exposed a struggling batting order, an ageing bowling attack and a captain under fire. Englan…

  19. · Sydney Morning Herald (outlet profile)

    Khawaja addresses backlash from explosive claims. Usman Khawaja said he didn't 'throw anyone under the bus' in this bombshell Sandpapergate claims in his new book that have rattled the cricket community.

  20. · Sydney Morning Herald (outlet profile)

    Khawaja’s explosive confession puts Australian bowlers in the firing line. Usman Khawaja says he was ready to go public with his recollections of “sandpapergate” in 2021 – but didn’t want to “go to war” with Australia’s…

  21. · Sydney Morning Herald (outlet profile)

    Tubby 'disappointed' in fresh 2018 saga claims. Mark Taylor spoke on Nine's Today about Usman Khawaja's new claims in his book, believing the discussion will "go round in circles".

  22. · Channel NewsAsia (outlet profile)

    Khawaja denies throwing 'anyone under the bus' with comments about ball-tampering scandal

  23. · Times of India (outlet profile)

    ‘I haven’t thrown anyone under the bus’: Khawaja hits back amid Sandpapergate row. In his autobiography, Usman Khawaja reveals that the entire Australian cricket team was aware of the ball-tampering incident during thei…

  24. · Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)

    Usman Khawaja says Steve Smith talked him out of sharing blame for sandpaper plot

  25. · Dawn (outlet profile)

    Usman Khawaja denies throwing 'anyone under the bus' with comments about Australia's 2018 ball-tampering scandal. Usman Khawaja insisted on Sunday he did not “throw anyone under the bus” by claiming the entire Australia…

Factual core

  • Usman Khawaja claimed the entire Australian cricket team knew about the ball-tampering plan during the 2018 'Sandpapergate' scandal.
  • The ball-tampering incident occurred during a test match in Cape Town in March 2018.
  • Khawaja made these revelations in his autobiography.
  • Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were suspended after the ball-tampering incident in South Africa in 2018.
  • Khawaja's statement contradicts the official narrative that only three players were responsible for the ball-tampering.
  • The scandal involved the deliberate alteration of the cricket ball's condition.

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