Sandpapergate row: 'Not going to answer that' - Usman Khawaja cancels media interviews after Pat Cummins question
· Yahoo Sports
Former Australia opener Usman Khawaja has reportedly called off his remaining TV and radio interviews for the promotion of his autobiography, Sabr. The move follows a tough interview in which he was questioned about his claims surrounding the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, popularly known as Sandpapergate.
News Corp reported that publisher Penguin informed media outlets about the cancellations on Wednesday morning. This came after Khawaja faced questions from Sarah Ferguson on ABC's 7.30.
Khawaja is reportedly concerned that his future interviews will focus mainly on the ball-tampering controversy rather than the other subjects covered in his book.
During Tuesday's interview, he had already indicated that he did not want to discuss the allegations any further.
"I've talked on social media about this and I've written in my book, that's my statement, that's what it is, and I'm not going to really speak on any more of it at this moment in time," he said.
During his conversation with Ferguson, Khawaja was asked about Warner backing his version of events and his statement that any "lies will eventually get out".
"What lies is he talking about?" she asked.
"I'm not going to speak on behalf of Davey," Khawaja replied.
"I've tried my best to tell my story in an open and safe environment."
Khawaja said he wanted the entire team to accept responsibility for the incident rather than leave three players to face the consequences.
"All I've ever wanted is for us to take accountability as a team, and I don't think that's a lot to say. I'm not asking a lot from people and I say, 'We were a part of it. That was us'. Let's just take accountability. I was here to tell my truth, what I saw, what I felt, and to stick with those three guys who were made out to be the only people who have taken it [accountability]," he said.
Ferguson also asked Khawaja whether Australia captain Pat Cummins knew about the use of sandpaper. However, the former opener did not answer the question.
"I'm not going to answer that."
He added: "I've written what I've written in my book. I've come out and stood by those three guys and told my account of what I saw."
Cummins, along with fellow bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, had publicly denied knowing about the incident in 2021.
Khawaja sparked a fresh debate on Saturday by claiming that the entire Australian team knew about the ball-tampering plan during the 2018 Test against South Africa in Cape Town. His statement is different from Cricket Australia's findings at the time, which held Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft responsible for knowing about the plan before it was carried out.
He also claimed that sandpaper had been used in the previous Test in Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha.
"It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us," he said ahead of the release of his book.
Khawaja, who retired this year after playing 88 Tests, has devoted an entire chapter of his autobiography to the scandal.
The Cape Town scandal had serious consequences for Smith, Warner and Bancroft. All three players were sent home following the incident. Smith received a 12-month ban and lost the Australia captaincy. Warner was also banned for 12 months and removed from leadership positions, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension.
Khawaja believes the outcome might have been different if the entire team had accepted responsibility.
"I don't believe the whole team would have got a ban if we went in together," he said.
"I think it would have been shared. It's very hard to ban the whole team."
Khawaja also rejected suggestions that he had made the revelations now to attract more buyers for his autobiography.
He told Ferguson that the ball-tampering issue was not part of the discussion when he signed his publishing deal in 2023. He also said his manager and publisher found out about the chapter only six months ago.
"Even when I gave it to them six months ago, they were shocked because I don't really talk about this to anyone," he said.
The former Australia opener also explained why he chose to share his account after retiring from international cricket.
"The reason I felt more comfortable saying it now is because I don't speak for the team anymore," he said.
"If I try to come out and do it while I'm still on the team, they have to look at me every day. We have to go operate as a team."
Cricket Australia has responded to Khawaja's claims and defended the findings of its investigation. However, it also accepted that the inquiry was completed within a short period.
"The three players who received bans after the Cape Town Test acknowledged their breaches and accepted the penalties imposed," a spokesperson told Nine newspapers.
"We have acknowledged that the investigation was conducted in a short timeframe given the impending Test match and that there are varying opinions about some matters including the length of the sanctions imposed. We respect that players have different recollections of events from this time.
"But we remain comfortable the investigation's findings accurately reflect the statements and evidence provided at the time."
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has ruled out reopening the investigation.
News Corp reported that publisher Penguin informed media outlets about the cancellations on Wednesday morning. This came after Khawaja faced questions from Sarah Ferguson on ABC's 7.30.
Khawaja is reportedly concerned that his future interviews will focus mainly on the ball-tampering controversy rather than the other subjects covered in his book.
During Tuesday's interview, he had already indicated that he did not want to discuss the allegations any further.
"I've talked on social media about this and I've written in my book, that's my statement, that's what it is, and I'm not going to really speak on any more of it at this moment in time," he said.
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— TUnlimitedd (@TUnlimitedd) Khawaja refuses to answer question about Pat Cummins
During his conversation with Ferguson, Khawaja was asked about Warner backing his version of events and his statement that any "lies will eventually get out".
"What lies is he talking about?" she asked.
"I'm not going to speak on behalf of Davey," Khawaja replied.
"I've tried my best to tell my story in an open and safe environment."
Khawaja said he wanted the entire team to accept responsibility for the incident rather than leave three players to face the consequences.
"All I've ever wanted is for us to take accountability as a team, and I don't think that's a lot to say. I'm not asking a lot from people and I say, 'We were a part of it. That was us'. Let's just take accountability. I was here to tell my truth, what I saw, what I felt, and to stick with those three guys who were made out to be the only people who have taken it [accountability]," he said.
Ferguson also asked Khawaja whether Australia captain Pat Cummins knew about the use of sandpaper. However, the former opener did not answer the question.
"I'm not going to answer that."
He added: "I've written what I've written in my book. I've come out and stood by those three guys and told my account of what I saw."
Cummins, along with fellow bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, had publicly denied knowing about the incident in 2021.
What did Khawaja claim about Sandpapergate?
Khawaja sparked a fresh debate on Saturday by claiming that the entire Australian team knew about the ball-tampering plan during the 2018 Test against South Africa in Cape Town. His statement is different from Cricket Australia's findings at the time, which held Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft responsible for knowing about the plan before it was carried out.
He also claimed that sandpaper had been used in the previous Test in Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha.
"It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us," he said ahead of the release of his book.
Khawaja, who retired this year after playing 88 Tests, has devoted an entire chapter of his autobiography to the scandal.
What punishments did Smith, Warner and Bancroft receive?
The Cape Town scandal had serious consequences for Smith, Warner and Bancroft. All three players were sent home following the incident. Smith received a 12-month ban and lost the Australia captaincy. Warner was also banned for 12 months and removed from leadership positions, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension.
Khawaja believes the outcome might have been different if the entire team had accepted responsibility.
"I don't believe the whole team would have got a ban if we went in together," he said.
"I think it would have been shared. It's very hard to ban the whole team."
Khawaja denies making claims to boost book sales
Khawaja also rejected suggestions that he had made the revelations now to attract more buyers for his autobiography.
He told Ferguson that the ball-tampering issue was not part of the discussion when he signed his publishing deal in 2023. He also said his manager and publisher found out about the chapter only six months ago.
"Even when I gave it to them six months ago, they were shocked because I don't really talk about this to anyone," he said.
The former Australia opener also explained why he chose to share his account after retiring from international cricket.
"The reason I felt more comfortable saying it now is because I don't speak for the team anymore," he said.
"If I try to come out and do it while I'm still on the team, they have to look at me every day. We have to go operate as a team."
Cricket Australia responds to fresh allegations
Cricket Australia has responded to Khawaja's claims and defended the findings of its investigation. However, it also accepted that the inquiry was completed within a short period.
"The three players who received bans after the Cape Town Test acknowledged their breaches and accepted the penalties imposed," a spokesperson told Nine newspapers.
"We have acknowledged that the investigation was conducted in a short timeframe given the impending Test match and that there are varying opinions about some matters including the length of the sanctions imposed. We respect that players have different recollections of events from this time.
"But we remain comfortable the investigation's findings accurately reflect the statements and evidence provided at the time."
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has ruled out reopening the investigation.