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Pat Cummins has denied Usman Khawaja's claims that he and other Australian players knew about the sandpaper ball-tampering scheme in 2018. This has reignited debate over the scandal and the culture of Australian cricket.
What happened
- Earlier
Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were punished for using sandpaper to tamper with the ball in a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town in 2018 [1].
- 13 Nov 2026
Pat Cummins denies Usman Khawaja's claims that he and other players knew about the sandpaper scheme and calls Khawaja's allegations 'utter nonsense' [1].
What you need to know
The sandpaper scandal involved Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft in 2018.
Pat Cummins has denied any knowledge of the sandpaper scheme.
Usman Khawaja's claims have reignited debate over the scandal and Australian cricket culture.
The extent of Khawaja's claims and whether they will lead to further investigations or actions remain unclear.
Background
In 2018, Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were punished for using sandpaper to tamper with the ball during a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town. This incident led to a scandal that has since been referred to as 'Sandpapergate'.
Usman Khawaja, a former Australian cricketer, has claimed in his autobiography that the entire Australian team knew about the sandpaper scheme and should have taken responsibility. Pat Cummins, the current captain, has denied these claims, calling them '100% wrong' and 'utter nonsense'.
The debate over the sandpaper scandal has reignited discussions about the culture of Australian cricket and the reputations of those involved.
Questions people ask
What is the sandpaper scandal?
The sandpaper scandal refers to an incident in 2018 where Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were punished for using sandpaper to tamper with the ball during a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town.
What has Pat Cummins said about the scandal?
Pat Cummins has denied any knowledge of the sandpaper scheme and called Usman Khawaja's claims 'utter nonsense'.
What is Usman Khawaja's role in this debate?
Usman Khawaja has claimed in his autobiography that the entire Australian team knew about the sandpaper scheme and should have taken responsibility, reigniting the debate over the scandal.
Where this came from
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.