Usman Khawaja has reportedly called off his remaining television and radio appearances promoting his autobiography, Sabr, as controversy continues over his explosive claims about the Sandpapergate scandal.
According to News Corp, publisher Penguin informed media outlets of the cancellations on Wednesday morning, following Khawaja’s interview with Sarah Ferguson on ABC’s 7.30.
Khawaja was reportedly worried that further interviews would focus almost entirely on the scandal, overshadowing the other stories in his book.
During Tuesday night’s interview, he had already indicated that he would not elaborate further on his allegations.
“I’ve talked on social media about this and I’ve written in my book, that’s my statement, that’s what it is, and I’m not going to really speak on any more of it at this moment in time,” he said.
The former Australian opener claimed on Saturday that the entire team knew about the 2018 ball-tampering plan in Cape Town, disputing Cricket Australia’s finding that only Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft had prior knowledge.
Former Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has reportedly cancelled his remaining media appearances promoting his new book, Sabr
Khawaja faced repeated questions about Sandpapergate during his interview with Sarah Ferguson
The former Australian opener’s autobiography has reignited debate over the 2018 ball-tampering scandal
He also alleged that sandpaper had been used during the previous Test in Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha.
“It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us,” he said before the book’s release.
Khawaja, who retired this year after playing 88 Tests, devotes a chapter of his autobiography to the scandal.
Ferguson began the interview by asking about Warner’s support for Khawaja’s version of events and his suggestion that any “lies will eventually get out”.
“What lies is he talking about?” she asked.
“I’m not going to speak on behalf of Davey,” Khawaja replied.
“I’ve tried my best to tell my story in an open and safe environment.”
Khawaja reiterated his view that the team should have accepted collective responsibility for what happened.
Khawaja says Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were left to carry the blame for the Australian team
Warner has described Usman Khawaja’s account of Sandpapergate as “100 per cent accurate”
“All I’ve ever wanted is for us to take accountability as a team, and I don’t think that’s a lot to say.
“I’m not asking a lot from people and I say, ‘We were a part of it. That was us’. Let’s just take accountability.
“I was here to tell my truth, what I saw, what I felt, and to stick with those three guys who were made out to be the only people who have taken it [accountability].”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: FBI and DEA Conduct Raid on Texas Star Pharmacy, Seizing Assets – NewsFinale
When asked whether Pat Cummins knew about the sandpaper, Khawaja replied: “I’m not going to answer that.”
He added: “I’ve written what I’ve written in my book. I’ve come out and stood by those three guys and told my account of what I saw.”
Cummins and fellow bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon publicly denied in 2021 that they had known about the ball-tampering plan.
Smith, Warner and Bancroft were sent home after the Cape Town scandal.
Smith was banned for 12 months and removed as captain, while Warner received a 12-month suspension and was stripped of his leadership positions. Bancroft was banned for nine months.
Khawaja declined to say whether Pat Cummins had prior knowledge of the sandpaper
Bancroft was caught on camera using sandpaper during the third Test against South Africa
Smith, Warner and Bancroft were suspended in the aftermath of the Cape Town scandal
Khawaja told Ferguson that he did not believe the punishments were appropriate, arguing that a collective admission of responsibility might have led to a different outcome.
“I don’t believe the whole team would have got a ban if we went in together,” he said.
“I think it would have been shared. It’s very hard to ban the whole team.”
He also rejected the suggestion that he had timed his disclosures to boost sales of his autobiography.
Khawaja said the sandpaper allegations were not discussed when he signed his publishing deal in 2023. According to the former batter, his manager and publisher learned about the chapter only six months ago.
“Even when I gave it to them six months ago, they were shocked because I don’t really talk about this to anyone,” he said.
He also defended waiting until after his retirement to tell his version of events.
“The reason I felt more comfortable saying it now is because I don’t speak for the team anymore,” he said.
“If I try to come out and do it while I’m still on the team, they have to look at me every day. We have to go operate as a team.”
After the interview, Cricket Australia issued a fresh statement acknowledging that the investigation had been completed within a short timeframe.
“The three players who received bans after the Cape Town Test acknowledged their breaches and accepted the penalties imposed,” a spokesperson told Nine newspapers.
“We have acknowledged that the investigation was conducted in a short timeframe given the impending Test match and that there are varying opinions about some matters, including the length of the sanctions imposed. We respect that players have different recollections of events from this time.
“But we remain comfortable the investigation’s findings accurately reflect the statements and evidence provided at the time.”
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has ruled out reopening the investigation.