The Sandpapergate controversy has resurfaced after former Australia opener David Warner questioned Cricket Australia’s investigation into the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
Warner alleged that three members of Australia’s bowling attack were never interviewed during the inquiry, raising questions about how the governing body concluded that the bowlers had no knowledge of the incident.
In his latest social media post, the former left-handed opener – who along with Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith was found guilty by CA and suspended – claimed that Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon were not interviewed during the 2018 investigation.
“If that’s correct, then how can CA push the idea that the bowlers didn’t know? It looks like they had decided who they wanted to blame from the very beginning,” Warner wrote, describing the investigation as a possible “cover-up”.
Warner’s comments follow renewed scrutiny of the scandal after Usman Khawaja’s autobiography, Sabr, suggested that the entire Australian team knew about the plan to use sandpaper during the Cape Town Test.
Wasim Akram Weighs In On Cummins’ Sandpaper Comments
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has also reacted to the controversy, particularly Pat Cummins’ denial that he knew sandpaper was being used.
In a video post, the legendary pacer explained the difference between natural scratches on an old cricket ball and marks created by sandpaper.
“As a bowler, when the cricket ball comes in my hand… the sandpaper scratch is totally different than the one-bounce scratch,” Akram said.
He suggested that an experienced fast bowler would recognise the difference in the ball’s condition, but clarified that he was not taking sides in the dispute.
Cummins Rejects Khawaja’s Allegations
Cummins has strongly denied Khawaja’s claims, insisting that he did not know sandpaper was being used during the 2018 Cape Town Test.
“When he says ‘we all knew’, if by that he means that we knew sandpaper was going out on the field, he’s 100% wrong. I’ve said that consistently for the last eight years,” Cummins said.
The scandal erupted during Australia’s Test against South Africa in Cape Town in March 2018, when Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to alter the ball’s condition.
Cricket Australia subsequently handed 12-month bans to Steve Smith and David Warner, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension.
Eight years later, Khawaja’s revelations, Cummins’ rebuttal, Warner’s latest allegations and Akram’s comments have brought one of Australian cricket’s biggest controversies back into the spotlight.