Steve Smith, the former Australian cricket captain, remains haunted by the 'Sandpapergate' scandal that rocked the team in 2018. Usman Khawaja has stirred controversy with assertions that all team members were aware of the incident during the Cape Town Test.
Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were reprimanded after an investigation by Cricket Australia, which previously identified them as the sole masterminds. Smith and Warner faced 12-month bans, while Bancroft was sidelined for nine months.
Khawaja, speaking before the release of his autobiography, asserted that the culpability was collective, involving players and staff alike. Though several bowlers have publicly denied knowledge, Khawaja emphasized that shared accountability should have been embraced.
He voiced his disappointment that eight years later, the full truth had yet to emerge. The former coach, Darren Lehmann, maintained that not everyone was privy to the scheme, although he admitted that ball-tampering once permeated the sport.
Khawaja's book elaborates on how initial tactics were discussed during the Test match in Port Elizabeth, leading to an attempt using sandpaper. Cricket Australia reiterated satisfaction with its initial findings but remains open to any new evidence.
