Sandpapergate, Round 2: Who said what after Usman Khawaja's explosive claims

Usman Khawaja's explosive Sandpapergate revelations have reopened one of Australian cricket's biggest controversies, dividing former teammates. While David Warner has backed his account, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and others have challenged his claims.

Eight years after the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, Sandpapergate is back in the spotlight. Usman Khawaja's autobiography Sabr has reignited the controversy, with the former Australia opener claiming that the entire team, including players and support staff, knew about the use of sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball.

Khawaja alleged that sandpaper had also been used during the second Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth, before Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera attempting to tamper with the ball in Cape Town. He questioned why Cricket Australia's investigation did not interview him, despite his presence in the dressing room, and argued that responsibility for the incident extended beyond the three players who were punished.

The claims have challenged the findings of Cricket Australia's 2018 investigation, which held David Warner responsible for devising the plan, Bancroft for carrying it out and then captain Steve Smith for knowing about it and failing to stop it. Smith and Warner were handed 12-month bans, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension.

Warner has backed Khawaja's account, while Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has ruled out a fresh investigation.

The debate took another turn on Friday, when Pat Cummins addressed the allegations in a lengthy press conference, firmly denying that he or the other bowlers knew sandpaper was being taken onto the field. Warner subsequently hit back at the Australia captain, accusing him of throwing Khawaja under the bus.

Here is what the key figures have said as the Sandpapergate controversy continues to divide Australian cricket.

PAT CUMMINS REJECTS KHAWAJA'S CLAIMS

Cummins strongly denied Khawaja's suggestion that the Australian bowling group knew about the use of sandpaper during the Cape Town Test. He also took issue with the claim that he and other bowlers were architects of a plan to tamper with the ball.

"When he says we all knew, if by that he means we knew sandpaper was going out on the field, he's 100% wrong. I said that consistently for the last eight years. I did not know that was happening. But I think Usman actually says things that are far more serious than that."

He added, "He says that I and others were architects of a scheme to ball tamper with sandpaper. That's complete and utter nonsense."

The Australia captain also questioned the way his former teammate had presented the allegations, saying, "Usman is a friend, but friends aren't casual with each other's lives and reputations. In his book he's been casual with my life and the lives of many others and I think Australian cricket."

Cummins said he supported Khawaja's right to tell his story but believed people had to be accountable for the claims they made. He was particularly troubled by Khawaja's account of allegedly warning Bancroft to be careful while using sandpaper.

WARNER BACKS KHAWAJA, HITS BACK AT CUMMINS

Warner has consistently backed Khawaja's account, calling his revelations accurate and questioning the investigation that followed the 2018 scandal. He also argued that Khawaja should not be criticised for speaking out eight years later.

"What you've said is 100 per cent accurate. Now everyone knows the truth. It's out there. People wanted to know it, and you've come out and said it," Warner said after Khawaja's initial revelations.

He described the Cricket Australia investigation as rushed and incomplete, pointing out that Khawaja was never interviewed despite being present in the dressing room.

"The whole interview process was rushed and botched. Uzi was sitting next to Cameron Bancroft. Uzi was not interviewed. How is that a thorough investigation? It baffles me."

Warner's support became even more emphatic after Cummins' press conference. Speaking on Fox Cricket, he said Khawaja had told the truth and accused the Australia captain of turning against his former teammate.

"I still stick by Uzzy, and what he's written in that book, because it is the truth, and I really, really support him."

"I actually feel for him at the moment. I actually feel that today, the captain threw Uzzy under the bus, and I'm very, very disappointed about that."

Warner also said the three players who were punished had continued to pay a heavy personal price for the scandal.

STARC STANDS BY 2021 STATEMENT

Starc maintained that his recollection of the 2018 events had not changed and stood by the joint statement released by him, Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon in 2021. The four bowlers had denied knowing that a foreign substance was being taken onto the field to alter the ball.

"We were heavily drilled through the process at the time since. Now, I guess, I won't speak on behalf of the bowlers, but where I stand, my opinion hasn't changed. My recollection hasn't changed from what we said in 2021," Starc said.

Asked whether the entire team knew about the plan, Starc reiterated the bowlers' position.

"As far as our statement said, we weren't aware of it being taken on the field. That's where I'll leave it."

Starc also denied knowing that sandpaper had been used during the Port Elizabeth Test, saying he first became aware of the incident when footage of Bancroft appeared on the big screen in Cape Town.

MITCHELL MARSH REFUSES TO REVISIT SCANDAL

Australia's stand-in ODI captain declined to offer his version of events when questioned about Khawaja's allegations ahead of the team's series against England. Marsh, who was part of the playing XI in the Cape Town Test, was repeatedly asked whether he knew about the use of sandpaper.

"There's obviously been a lot of noise around this week. I respect that certain people have chosen to tell their stories, but I'm not here to share mine today," Marsh said.

When pressed again about his recollections of the South Africa tour, he replied, "As I said, I'm not here to revisit my recollections of South Africa."

Marsh maintained that his focus was on leading Australia in the upcoming series, with a World Cup year approaching.

CRICKET AUSTRALIA RULES OUT FRESH PROBE

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg acknowledged Khawaja's right to share his version of events but said the board had no intention of reopening its investigation.

"There's absolutely no benefit going back. That's the position of the CA board, it's time to look ahead," Greenberg said.

He also cautioned against drawing conclusions from headlines and commentary around the autobiography, pointing out that Khawaja's account contradicted versions provided by others involved.

Greenberg expected further accounts to emerge as members of the 2018 team publish their own books, but maintained that the governing body's position was to move on from the controversy.

CLARKE WANTS INVESTIGATION REOPENED

Before Cummins addressed the media, former Australia captain Michael Clarke had called for the investigation to be reopened, arguing that Australian supporters had not received the full truth about the scandal.

"They can't trust what's real. They don't know the truth until this gets reopened and the truth comes out," Clarke told 2DayFM.

Clarke questioned whether the entire team knew about the plan and said the previous opportunities to establish the truth had not delivered answers.

"We had the chance in 2018. The truth didn't come out. We had the chance in 2021 when [Bancroft] made those comments. The truth didn't come out."

He also highlighted the impact of the scandal on the leadership of Australian cricket, arguing that Cummins would not have become captain had Smith not lost the role following the incident.

"I can't believe we haven't heard from Pat Cummins yet, the Australian captain. Steve Smith lost his job. If this doesn't happen, Tim Paine never captains Australia. And neither does Pat Cummins."

"Pat Cummins would not have captained a game at this stage if 'sandpapergate' didn't happen because Steve Smith would still be captain."

LANGER URGES AUSTRALIA TO MOVE ON

Former Australia coach Justin Langer backed Cummins' decision to address the controversy and said the team needed to find a way to move forward. He also pointed to the toll the renewed debate was taking on Australian cricket.

"I think he (Cummins) did what he had to do. Strong leaders, they stand up ... the captain stood up and Mitch Marsh stood up yesterday," Langer told SEN.

"Hopefully, that'll put some sort of line in the sand, because we have to move on. There's too many people being hurt in Australian cricket, and that includes the Australian public."

Langer added that the impact of Cummins' press conference would become clearer with time, but stressed the need to draw a line under the controversy.

"We have to draw a line in the sand somewhere ... whether the press conference today is going to help that or hinder it, time will tell."

HAYDEN QUESTIONS KHAWAJA'S PERSPECTIVE

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden also weighed in on the debate, questioning whether Khawaja's account represented a collective view of the team. Hayden suggested that the former opener's comments were framed around his own perspective.

"A lot of Usman, if you play his Instagram back, there's a lot of 'me', 'I'. It's nothing like 'us'. Usman, in my opinion, is not going to tell a great story," Hayden said in a video posted by Love of Cricket on Instagram.

The latest round of statements has done little to settle the questions surrounding Cape Town.

Cricket Australia has made its position clear by ruling out another investigation, but that has not stopped former players from questioning whether the full story ever emerged. Eight years on, the divide is no longer just about what happened on the field in Cape Town. It is also about who knew, who has been heard and whether Australian cricket can move on without a version of events that everyone accepts.