Khawaja defends timing of ball-tampering claims as Cricket Australia stands by findings

Usman Khawaja has defended his decision to publish allegations about Australia's 2018 ball-tampering scandal, saying he had previously wanted the team to accept collective responsibility. In a two-part Instagram explanation on Sunday, the former Test opener argued that Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft had borne the consequences for others, according to Australian Associated Press reporting published by the Guardian.

Watch the highlights:

Khawaja said he intended to speak publicly shortly after the three players were suspended in 2018, but Smith persuaded him not to. He also said he discussed the team taking responsibility with then-coach Justin Langer and Todd Greenberg in 2021. Greenberg was then leading the players' union and is now Cricket Australia's chief executive, the report said. These accounts are Khawaja's description of the conversations.

The explanation follows extracts from his memoir, Sabr, which is due for release on Tuesday. In the book, Khawaja alleges that sandpaper was used on a ball during the second Test against South Africa at St George's Park, before the subsequent Cape Town incident. He claims the practice initially took place before players entered the field at the start of sessions and later extended to use on the field in Cape Town.

Khawaja also alleges that a coaching staff member encouraged Bancroft to intensify his work on the ball before cameras and umpires detected him. He said he and Warner had agreed that he would disclose his account after retirement. Explaining the delay, Khawaja said he had not felt comfortable addressing the issue while back in Australia's team from 2022 and had held the book until after Australia's Test return to South Africa last month.

Cricket Australia has maintained its confidence in the 2018 investigation's conclusion that only Warner, Smith and Bancroft knew about the plan, AAP reported. Bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon have also denied knowing that a foreign substance was being taken onto the field. Those positions conflict with Khawaja's account of wider team knowledge.

Khawaja has criticised the investigation, including the fact that he was not interviewed. His latest statement presents the disclosures as an effort to secure fair treatment for the three sanctioned players rather than assign blame to individual teammates. The competing accounts remain unresolved in the report, with his allegations standing alongside the governing body's findings and the bowlers' denials.