Khawaja says he did not throw team-mates under the bus over sandpaper scandal

Usman Khawaja says he has not blamed individual team-mates for Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal, after his account that the whole team shared responsibility drew denials from former coach Darren Lehmann and four bowlers.

In videos posted on Instagram, the former Australia opener said his claim that “it was all of us” meant the team should accept collective responsibility. He added that he would not deny that everyone knew about the plan to use sandpaper on the ball, but said he had not spoken on behalf of anyone in his autobiography, *Sabr*.

Khawaja made the claims in the book and an interview with the *Sydney Morning Herald*. During the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town, cameras caught Cameron Bancroft using sandpaper to alter the ball. Captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Bancroft were the players punished.

The dispute over who knew about the plan remains. In 2021, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon said in a joint statement that they “did not know a foreign substance was taken on to the field”. Lehmann, Australia’s coach at the time, said on Saturday: “I don’t think everyone would have known.”

Khawaja said he waited until Australia’s recent series in South Africa had ended before explaining his remarks. “I haven’t thrown anyone under the bus,” he said, adding that Smith, Warner and Bancroft “took the blame for all of us”. He said he had not raised his account earlier because he was still in the team and did not know how to discuss a subject some team-mates wanted to avoid.

Khawaja retired from international cricket in January. He had discussed his forthcoming autobiography with Cummins before the South Africa series, which Australia lost 2-1. Cummins said he had no concerns about the book.

Cricket Australia said it remained comfortable with the findings of its integrity process and that relevant information could still be submitted. It has not indicated that it wants to reopen the investigation.