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Sandpaper-gate takes fresh twist as former coach accused of hiding the truth.

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The allegations surfaced after Saker was identified as the unnamed coach mentioned in Usman Khawaja's memoir, *Sabr*. Khawaja wrote that the coach urged Bancroft during a lunch break to produce reverse swing by any means necessary before the illegal item was taken onto the field. Saker later repeatedly instructed the players to avoid mentioning sandpaper to the media. The true use of sandpaper was only disclosed later when Cricket Australia handed down formal penalties.

Key points

  • New disclosures suggest coaching staff actively participated in a cover-up during the 201…: New disclosures suggest coaching staff actively participated in a cover-up during the 2018 ball-tampering incident.
  • Usman Khawaja's book challenges the official finding that only three Australian players b…: Usman Khawaja's book challenges the official finding that only three Australian players bore responsibility for the scandal.
  • The true nature of the illicit material remained hidden until Cricket Australia released…: The true nature of the illicit material remained hidden until Cricket Australia released its official sanctions.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The 2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal has resurfaced with fresh allegations, eight years after the infamous Sandpaper-gate incident rocked international cricket. Former Australia bowling coach

David Saker has reportedly been accused of urging

Steve Smith and

Cameron Bancroft not to disclose that sandpaper was used to tamper with the ball during the Cape Town Test against South Africa.

The latest development follows revelations in former Australian batter Usman Khawaja's memoir, Sabr, in which he claimed that the ball-tampering operation was not limited to a handful of players and that the entire Australian team was aware of the practice. Khawaja also questioned why Bancroft, Smith and David Warner were the only players to face sanctions for an incident that, according to him, involved a wider group within the dressing room.

A report by the Sydney Morning Herald has now identified Saker as the unnamed coach repeatedly referenced in Khawaja's book, adding another dimension to the controversy.

Saker allegedly told Smith and Bancroft not to mention sandpaper

According to the report, Saker urged Smith and Bancroft not to reveal the identity of the…

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