Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has reportedly disputed claims of innocence made by fellow players Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon regarding the 2018 ball-tampering incident in Cape Town, according to a report by The Cricket News.
The article, published on November 7, 2026, cites Khawaja as stating "We knew" in reference to the bowlers' assertions that they were unaware of the plan to alter the ball's condition during the Test match against South Africa.
The sandpaper scandal, which involved then-captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and opener Cameron Bancroft, led to lengthy bans and a major review of Australian cricket culture. Khawaja's reported comments add a new dimension to the long-standing narrative about team awareness of the incident.
