Pat Cummins Rejects 'Utter Nonsense' Allegations of Ball-Tampering Knowledge

Australian Test cricket captain Pat Cummins has once again vehemently denied any involvement in the infamous 2018 plot to use sandpaper on the ball during a Test match against South Africa. Cummins described the allegations put forth in Usman Khawaja’s recently published autobiography as "utter nonsense." Khawaja, a former Australian batsman, stated last weekend that all players on the team were aware of the plan to alter the ball's condition with sandpaper to enhance swing. These recent comments have prompted calls for a renewed investigation into the incident.

The scandal primarily involved the third Test in Cape Town, but Khawaja also claimed the tactic was employed in the second Test held in Port Elizabeth. "When he says we all knew, if by that he means that we knew sandpaper was going out in the field, he’s 100 percent wrong. I’ve said that consistently for the last eight years," Cummins told a news conference in Sydney on Friday. He further elaborated, "I did not know that was happening, but I think Usman actually says things that are actually far more serious than that. He says that I and others were architects of a scheme to ball tamper with sandpaper. That’s complete and utter nonsense. There was no master plan around using illegal methods. There’s no grand plan. There’s no team meeting. There’s no bowlers saying ‘this is what must happen’.".

In a joint statement in 2021, Cummins and fellow bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon had all publicly denied any knowledge of the plan. Darren Lehmann, the Australian head coach at the time, has also denied any awareness, as has former batting coach Graeme Hick, who labeled Khawaja’s allegations as "absolutely false." Cummins addressed the media for an extensive 68 minutes on Friday, fielding every question and indicating he would not discuss the ball-tampering incident again.

The Australian skipper also took issue with Khawaja's assertion in his book that his skin color and background had been impediments to him becoming Australia's captain. "I think of all the things that I’ve read this week, I think that’s actually the most serious," Cummins stated. "Him saying that if you’re Australian captain, you have to be a certain skin colour, I couldn’t disagree with that statement any more."

Steve Smith and David Warner, the then-captain and vice-captain respectively, received year-long bans from elite cricket by Cricket Australia for their roles in the ball-tampering. Opening batter Cameron Bancroft, who was seen bringing a piece of sandpaper onto the field, was suspended for nine months for his involvement.

"I was genuinely shocked this week when I found out that Usman admitted that he told Cam to be careful when using sandpaper. That’s not the Usman that I know," Cummins remarked. "It’s not the Usman that has helped rebuild the Australian cricket culture over the last eight years." Later on Friday, Warner commented that the three players had endured significant consequences for the incident and revealed that his wife, Candice, had suffered a miscarriage in the aftermath of the scandal, widely known as “Sandpapergate.”

"I still stick by Uzzie and what he has written in that book. It is the truth," the former Test opener said in TV commentary prior to an ODI between Australia and England. "I actually feel for [Khawaja] at the moment. I actually feel that the captain today threw Uzzie under the bus and I’m very disappointed by that."

Khawaja and Warner have also voiced criticism of the 2018 Cricket Australia investigation, which concluded that the three penalized players were solely accountable for the plot. "I got asked to be part of that review," Cummins said. "I was totally truthful. I’ve been very consistent since then at that event till now. Nothing’s changed." Earlier this week, the head of Cricket Australia confirmed that the 2018 incident would not be subject to a new investigation.

Cummins acknowledged Khawaja's right to share his story in his autobiography but expressed that some allegations were grave and required a response. "Usman’s a friend, but friends aren’t casual with each other’s lives and reputations," he said. "In his book, Uzzie has been casual with my life and the lives of many others, and I think Australian cricket." However, Cummins indicated he would not pursue legal action against Khawaja over the book's allegations. "I did get advised this week that some of the things that’ve been said are probably defamatory, but I won’t be doing that. You’ve got to move on. It’s been eight years. We’re moving on. So, you got to draw a line at some point."