Kolkata : Former Australian opener David Warner has fully backed his ex teammate Usman Khawaja regarding the later’s shocking allegations regarding the infamous 2018 Sandpaper Gate Scandal at Cape Town.
For years, it was believed that only three Australian players – Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft – were involved in the wrongdoing. However, Khawaja’s recent book, ‘Sabr’, has alleged that the entire team including Players, Suppor Staffs were fully aware and involved.
Khawaja’s claims were denied by Darren Lehmann, the Australian team’s coach at the time. However, Warner’s backing, with the former opener describing Khawaja’s revelations as ‘100 per cent accurate’, adds a new dimension to the saga. He also questioned the investigation carried out eight years ago.
“It’s been eight years since I spoke on this topic. And Uzzie, I throw my full support behind you. I thank you for what you’ve done. What you’ve said is 100 percent accurate. Everyone knows the truth. It’s out there. People wanted to know it. You’ve come out and said it. And now people are asking, ‘why eight years on?’ Because you’re selling a book?” Warner said on his Instagram.
“This is Usman’s story. This is what Usman believes. Uzzie wrote down every single thing from that day on. Now, this whole interview process was rushed and botched. Uzzie was sitting next to Cameron Bancroft. Uzzie was not interviewed. How is that a thorough investigation? It baffles me.
“We’re not here to point fingers. And we’re not opening up old wounds. It’s about accountability, transparency and showing that the truth is properly examined. And perhaps it’s time for people to stop scrutinising the person, asking for accountability, and start asking those responsible.”
Following the heinous crime of ‘Ball Tampering’ during Australia’s 3rd Test at Cape Town against South Africa, Warner and Steve Smith – the then vice-captain and captain, respectively – were handed 12-month bans, while Cameron Bancroft was prohibited from playing for 10 months. The episode was arguably the darkest chapter in the lives of all three cricketers. But long after they thought it was dead and buried, Khawaja’s upcoming book has brought the controversy back into focus.
Despite the claims that only the three players found guilty were involved, Warner said his children motivated him to find the courage to speak about the incident after all these years.
“There were a lot of statements and inaccuracies over the last eight years that were out in the media. A lot of people stayed silent. The last couple of days, I have been talking to my daughters. And that’s why it’s taken me a couple of days to get this out. I’ve had to tell them exactly what had happened. Especially my younger one, explaining why we were holding her, why there were cameras and why we were crying. That was a hard thing to do. But one thing I did say is, ‘tell the truth’. Because lies will eventually come out,” added Warner.
“This is for everyone in Australia. It’s been the question that everyone’s been asking. Uzzie, you said it as it is. It’s 100 per cent accurate. It’d been a tough time for my family. Steven and Cameron no doubt.”
Earlier, Khawaja who opened up the issue after 8 years stated that he made a promise to his childhood friend Warner that he would bring the truth.
Khawaja posted two videos on Instagram on Sunday defending what he has written and reiterating that the blame should be shared beyond Warner, Smith and Cameron Bancroft.
“I haven’t thrown anyone under the bus,” Khawaja said. “The guys that are currently in the team right now and the other people that were there on the South African tour, including me, we’re not the victims. These three guys took the blame for all of us. They’re the victims. People telling them that they’re cheats, getting nailed by the crowd, public humiliation.
“I made a promise to my childhood friend David Warner that I would tell the truth, so he could tell a story,” Khawaja added. “I’m absolutely 100 percent unapologetic for that. I stuck up for all cricketers in the past through the ACA, fighting for what I thought was right. This is no different.
“These three guys deserve justice, and I haven’t pointed fingers at anyone. I’m still searching for what I was searching all those years ago. For us, me included, to take the blame together as a team, so we can all move on from this once and for all. You know what? I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
At the beginning of his first video on Sunday, Khawaja said his statement that “it was all of us” was in reference to the entire team being responsible for what took place although added he would not deny that everyone knew. “I never speak on behalf of anyone else in my book,” he said.
Khawaja explained that in the aftermath of the Cape Town Test in 2018 when the sanctions had been handed out to Smith, Warner and Bancroft he wanted to “come clean in the media” about what had taken place.
“Smudge [Smith] being the man and leader he was talked me out of it,” Khawaja said. “He wanted to take the blame. I argued with him, but he was having none of it. That’s the first time I tried to come out.”
Khawaja also revealed that he had made another attempt for collective responsibility after Bancroft’s infamous 2021 interview to the Guardian where he said it was “self explanatory” that the bowlers would have known what had gone in South Africa.
However, he felt it was impossible for him to say anything publicly once the bowlers issued their joint statement. In 2021 Pat Cummins, Josh Hazelwood, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc came in a joint interview to reveal they’re unaware of any foreign substance coming onto the field.
Khawaja added in Instagram, “I wasn’t going to go to war with those guys back then. I just wasn’t comfortable. That’s the truth.
“So then you ask, why didn’t I say anything in those four years while I was still playing? You know what, I never wanted to be the first guy to chat about this. Call me a chicken or whatever you want. I didn’t know how to do it because I was still in the team. How was I ever supposed to bring this up when I knew some of my team-mates didn’t want to talk about it? I knew everything I did or said always influenced and affected the team.
“I was always conscious of putting my team first, but I’m not in that team more. What I say now isn’t a reflection of them any more. Now my words don’t influence the team at all. I speak for myself.”
All the developments, first by Khawaja and now Warner backing it gives a new twist in the infamous tale of Ball Tampering that once shook the Cricketing World 8 years ago.
