Australia captain Cummins says Khawaja’s sandpaper claims are wrong

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins addressed the allegations made in Usman Khawaja’s book about the 2018 ball‑tampering scandal during a press conference, the Guardian reported. When asked about the differing accounts, Cummins said, “That’s my story, so I think he’s wrong.” He added that the details matter and suggested there may have been conversations with Cameron Bancroft about removing sandpaper and how to do it, but he denied that everyone in the dressing room was aware of any wrongdoing. Cummins said there was no “master plan” to use illegal methods and warned against the assumption that the team moved from “very legal methods” to suddenly using sandpaper. He argued that the episode has not been discussed enough and that the notion of a coordinated scheme is inaccurate. The captain’s remarks aim to clarify his view of the incident and counter the narrative presented in Khawaja’s book.

Why it matters

Cummins’ statements challenge a high‑profile account of the 2018 scandal, influencing public perception of the event and the reputations of those involved.

Key details

Location

Australia · Oceania

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

13 Nov 2026, 04:14 IST

Key names

Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Australian, Cameron Bancroft

Section

Sports

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianPat Cummins press conference live updates: Australian cricket captain speaks about Usman Khawaja’s ‘sandpapergate’ claims 13 Nov, 04:14

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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