‘I didn’t throw anyone under the bus’: Usman Khawaja hits back amid Sandpapergate row

Australia’s Usman Khawaja (AP Photo/James Elsby) The Sandpapergate scandal that rocked Australian cricket in 2018 has returned to the spotlight following fresh revelations by Usman Khawaja, who claimed the entire team was aware of ball-tampering attempts during the Test series against South Africa.Excerpts from Khawaja’s forthcoming autobiography, Sabr, published by the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) on Saturday, suggested that the controversial practice was not limited to the third Test in Cape Town, but was also attempted in the previous match. The revelation sparked strong reactions, with former Australia coach Darren Lehmann dismissing Khawaja’s claims and former England captain Michael Vaughan also expressing his displeasure.Amid the growing controversy, Khawaja took to social media on Sunday to clarify his comments, insisting that his account had been misrepresented and that he stood by what he wrote.“Okay, time to get some facts straight because the media has predictably taken this to the moon.“I was silent yesterday, but number one, if you read my article, you would have seen when I mentioned that it’s all of us, suggesting that whether we like it or not, we’re all responsible for what happened. Together, as a team, we have to take it collectively. That’s all,” the former Australian batsman said.However, Khawaja stopped short of retracting his claim that the players were aware of the ball-tampering episode.“But now that everyone’s talking, am I going to deny that everyone knew? No. I’m not even going to deny it.”“But I never speak for anyone else in my book. Contrary to all the headlines the clickbait media would have you think. Don’t fall for the s***.”The former opener also addressed suggestions that he decided to make the revelation eight years after the incident to gain publicity and boost sales of his autobiography. Khawaja claimed that he deliberately withheld the account until the Australian team returned from South Africa.“What I say now is no longer a reflection of them, and my words now do not affect the team at all. I speak for myself.”“But I still refused to publish any of it while the boys were still in South Africa. That’s why I called Pat (Cummins).“Why would someone who really wants to increase sales of their book turn down the biggest marketing opportunity they have? I’m not throwing anyone under the bus … the three guys (Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft) who took the blame for us all are victims,” ​​he said.Khawaja reveals two teammates who oppose collective responsibilityFurther details from the autobiography, reported by Code Sports, also shed light on the discord in the Australian dressing room after the Cape Town Test. Khawaja claimed that two members of the team objected to his suggestion that the players collectively accept responsibility for what happened.“This was the biggest disappointment for me. I knew who these two guys were and it was ridiculous; it was them of all. But it showed me their true colors. When the going got tough, they only cared about themselves. But I wasn’t going to stop fighting it,” Khawaja wrote.The issue resurfaced years later when Cameron Bancroft apparently suggested in an interview that the Australian bowlers knew about the ball-tampering operation.Following the remarks, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon issued a joint statement distancing themselves from the incident.Khawaja’s autobiography further claims that he contacted then-head coach Justin Langer and general manager Todd Greenberg after Bancroft’s interview. He reportedly urged them to ensure that the entire team accepts the responsibility rather than putting the onus on the bowling group alone.According to Khawaja, both Langer and Greenberg agreed to his proposal. However, the final statement released publicly only came from four Australian bowlers, leaving the former batsman disappointed with how the matter was handled.The latest revelations have reopened questions surrounding one of Australian cricket’s darkest episodes, with Khawaja claiming responsibility for the incident goes beyond the three players who have been formally disciplined.