> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://newsanek.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Pat Cummins rejects Usman Khawaja's ball-tampering claims as utter nonsense - URL: https://newsanek.com/cummins-rejects-khawaja-sandpaper-claims/ - Published: 2026-11-13T03:32:46.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-13T03:50:30.000Z - Description: Khawaja's book Sabr says the whole team knew about the 2018 sandpaper plot. Cummins denied this, said he will not take legal action, and asked everyone to move on. Cricket Australia's chief executive said there will be no new investigation. - Author: Kumar Ujjwal - Tags: World, #sub-international, #sub-sports, #trending, #trending-world, #sm-58, #smemo-surprise Australia Test captain Pat Cummins has strongly rejected claims about the 2018 sandpaper scandal. He made his response at a press conference in Sydney on Friday. The claims come from former batter Usman Khawaja, who has written an autobiography called Sabr. The book was released this week, and Khawaja has since retired after 88 Tests. In the book, Khawaja says all players and staff knew about the plan. The plan was to tamper with the ball using sandpaper during a Test against South Africa in Cape Town. ![Scoreboard Newlands WP v EP Feb 1972](https://newsanek.com/content/images/2026/11/cummins-rejects-khawaja-sandpaper-claims-401218.jpg) Representative photo: Scoreboard Newlands WP v EP Feb 1972\. Photo: Hilton1949 / [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AScoreboard%5FNewlands%5FWP%5Fv%5FEP%5FFeb%5F1972.jpg?ref=newsanek.com), CC BY-SA 3.0 Ball tampering means changing the ball illegally to gain an advantage. In 2018, Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were punished for their part in the plan. Smith and Warner were banned for a year, and Bancroft got a nine-month suspension. ### Key points - Pat Cummins says the claim that the whole team knew is 100% wrong. - Khawaja's book Sabr makes the claims about the 2018 Cape Town Test. - Cummins says he will not take legal action and wants everyone to move on. - Cricket Australia's chief executive says there will be no new investigation. ## What did Cummins say in reply? Cummins said he did not know sandpaper was being taken onto the field. He said he has said this consistently for eight years. Key numbers in the 2018 ball-tampering row **1 year**Ban for Steve Smith and David Warner **9 months**Bancroft's suspension **8 years**Cummins's consistent denial Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report He also rejected the claim that he and others were architects of a scheme. "There was no master plan," he said. "There's no team meeting. There's no bowlers saying this is what must happen." Cummins said he was shocked to learn that Khawaja had told Bancroft to be careful when using sandpaper. He said that is not the Usman he knows. ## Why does this matter now? Khawaja also wrote that his skin colour and background stopped him from becoming Australia captain. Cummins strongly disagreed with that claim. Cummins described Khawaja as a friend. But he said friends should not be casual with each other's lives and reputations. He also said he supports Khawaja's right to tell his story. Cummins also spoke about the 2018 team. He said it had a win at all costs mentality, and he described some of its behaviour as abrasive. ## Will there be a new investigation? Khawaja's claims led to calls for a fresh probe. David Warner said Khawaja's version of events was 100 per cent accurate. Cricket Australia's chief executive, Todd Greenberg, said there will be no investigation into the incident. Cummins said he does not want to talk about the matter again after Friday. --- ### Sources - [The Week: '100% wrong': Pat Cummins slams Usman Khawaja's sandpaper scandal allegations as 'utter nonsense’](https://www.theweek.in/news/sports/2026/11/13/100percent-wrong-pat-cummins-slams-usman-khawajas-sandpaper-scandal-allegations-as-utter-nonsense.html?ref=newsanek.com) - [IANS live: 'Complete and utter nonsense': Cummins slams Khawaja's ball-tampering claims](https://ianslive.in/complete-and-utter-nonsense-cummins-slams-khawajas-ball-tampering-claims--20261113075632?ref=newsanek.com) - [Rediff.com: Cummins calls Khawaja's Sandpaper allegations 'utter nonsense', demands end to controversy](https://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/pat-cummins-calls-khawajas-sandpaper-allegations-utter-nonsense-demands-end-to-controversy/20261113.htm?ref=newsanek.com)