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Khawaja claims entire Australia team knew about 2018 ball-tampering scandal

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In short

The allegations detail that roughing up the ball had already been discussed during the preceding Test at Port Elizabeth before Cameron Bancroft volunteered to use sandpaper. Usman Khawaja stated that Steve Smith walked away from the discussion claiming he did not want to know about the plan. Despite the new account, Cricket Australia maintains confidence in its initial 2018 investigation, which cleared head coach Darren Lehmann before his eventual resignation.

Key points

  • Cricket Australia stands by the findings of its original integrity investigation while ke…: Cricket Australia stands by the findings of its original integrity investigation while keeping avenues open for new evidence.
  • The fresh claims directly dispute the official conclusion that only Steve Smith, David Wa…: The fresh claims directly dispute the official conclusion that only Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft knew of the plan.
  • The ball-tampering tactics were reportedly discussed by the team a full match prior to th…: The ball-tampering tactics were reportedly discussed by the team a full match prior to the Cape Town incident.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal saw Australia scuffing the ball with sandpaper in the March 2018 test in Cape Town.

Former opener Usman Khawaja claimed on Saturday that the entire Australian team knew about the 2018 “Sandpapergate” scandal in Cape Town and said they also employed the tactic during the previous Test at Port Elizabeth.

Captain Steve Smith, his deputy David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were sent home in disgrace and found by a Cricket Australia investigation to be the only three players with prior knowledge of the ball-tampering plot.

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Smith was banned for a year and sacked as skipper, Warner was suspended for 12 months and stripped of all leadership roles, while Bancroft was slapped with a nine-month ban. Head coach Darren Lehmann was cleared of direct involvement but resigned soon…

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