Australia Test captain Pat Cummins has denied knowing about the 2018 sandpaper ball-tampering plan after former teammate Usman Khawaja alleged wider knowledge in his memoir. Speaking in Sydney, Cummins rejected claims that he helped devise a scheme. He acknowledged the team’s abrasive culture at the time and said he would not sue despite receiving legal advice.
Australia Test cricket captain Pat Cummins rejected allegations that he knew about the 2018 sandpaper ball-tampering plan in South Africa. Speaking in Sydney, he denied former teammate Usman Khawaja’s claim that the whole team knew. Cummins also rejected the allegation that he and others devised a scheme to tamper with the ball.[1], [2]
Khawaja’s memoir Sabr alleges that knowledge extended beyond the three players sanctioned after the incident and that sandpaper was used during the preceding Test too. Cricket Australia, the sport’s national governing body, suspended Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft after investigating the episode. Cummins said he was shocked to learn that Khawaja had told Bancroft to be careful when using sandpaper.[1]
Cummins acknowledged that the team in 2018 had a win-at-all-costs mentality. He criticised its abrasive treatment of umpires and opponents and said he had worked to change the culture as captain. He said he had received legal advice that some allegations in the book were probably defamatory, but would not sue. Cummins and Khawaja had exchanged brief text messages since the book appeared on Tuesday. He described Khawaja as a friend but said the book had affected his reputation and those of others.[1]
