David Warner has thrown his full support behind former Australia opener Usman Khawaja, who claimed that the side's entire dressing room knew about the ball-tampering scheme in Cape Town in 2018. Khawaja has claimed in recent days that players and coaching staff were aware of the ball-tampering that occurred in South Africa eight years ago, stating: "It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff.
All of us," the 39-year-old told the Sydney Morning Herald, which is serialising the book. Warner also claimed the investigation held by Cricket Australia in the aftermath of the ball-tampering controversy was "rushed and botched". Warner and fellow batters Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were banned over the plan to rough up the ball with sandpaper during the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player In an excerpt of his autobiography released on Saturday, Khawaja said "open, lighthearted discussions" about tampering were not confined to batters, bowlers or staff but extended throughout the team. On Sunday, he added that he had chosen to speak about the 'Sandpapergate' scandal now after promising childhood friend Warner that he would share his side of the story. Until now, nobody else involved in the tour has ever admitted culpability.
The bowling unit of Pat Cummins - now Australia captain - Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon even released a statement in 2021 denying they knew anything about the tactic. Warner said in a video statement on Instagram: "People wanted to know it, you've come out and said it, and now people are saying, 'Why eight years on?' and talking about selling a book. This is what Usman believes.
Uzzi wrote down every single thing from that day on. "Now, this whole interview process was rushed and botched. Uzzi was sitting next to Cameron Bancroft.
Uzzi was not interviewed. How is that a thorough investigation? "We're not here to point fingers and we're not opening old wounds.
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