Khawaja Claims Ball Tampering Was Widely Known
In his new book Sabr, the batter says all players and staff knew about the 2018 Cape Town Test tampering.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Tennis
Usman Khawaja has claimed that all players and staff knew about ball tampering during the 2018 Cape Town Test, according to comments to Nine newspapers ahead of the release of his book Sabr. The book also says sandpaper was used in an earlier Test in Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha.
Why it matters
Cricket Australia has said only Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith and David Warner knew about the tactic, so Khawaja's account contradicts the official position. It revives a scandal that led to bans and public denials by several bowlers in 2021.
Cameron Bancroft received a nine-month ban, while Steve Smith and David Warner each received 12-month bans for the 2018 incident. Khawaja's account, drawn from his book Sabr, has not been independently verified and conflicts with Cricket Australia's findings.
The players
Usman Khawaja
Usman Khawaja is an Australian Test batter whose new book Sabr contains his account of the 2018 ball tampering scandal.
Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia is the governing body for cricket in Australia and was the body that concluded only Bancroft, Smith and Warner knew about the tampering.
Cameron Bancroft
Cameron Bancroft is an Australian batter who was caught using sandpaper on the ball and received a nine-month ban.
Steve Smith
Steve Smith is a former Australian captain who received a 12-month ban over the 2018 ball tampering scandal.
David Warner
David Warner is a former Australian opening batter who received a 12-month ban over the 2018 ball tampering scandal.
The details
Khawaja told Nine newspapers that players and staff all knew about the tampering in Cape Town, and his book says sandpaper was used in the earlier Port Elizabeth Test. Bancroft was caught using sandpaper on the ball during the third Test of the South Africa series.
Timeline
2018: Ball tampering occurred during the Cape Town Test.
2021: Bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon publicly denied knowing about the tampering.
6 November 2026: Khawaja made his claims ahead of the release of Sabr.
Season Trajectory
The 2018 Cape Town Test ball tampering scandal remains the defining controversy in recent Australian cricket, leading to the bans of Bancroft, Smith and Warner. Khawaja's claims that all players and staff knew reopen questions about the scope of the affair long after the sanctions were imposed.
The claims could prompt renewed scrutiny of Cricket Australia's findings and the sanctions handed to Bancroft, Smith and Warner. Readers following the sport may see further commentary as the book's release approaches.
The takeaway
Long-running sporting controversies can resurface when those involved speak publicly years later. Readers should weigh new first-hand accounts alongside official findings, noting where the two differ.
Further reading
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