Australia cricket captain describes Khawaja’s Sandpapergate claim as ’utter nonsense’

SYDNEYAustralia captain Pat Cummins has described as “utter nonsense” claims from ex-teammate Usman Khawaja that he knew about using sandpaper to tamper with a ball in a 2018 cheating scandal that rocked cricket.

Cummins held an extraordinary news conference Friday (November 13, 2026) to address allegations made in Usman Khawaja's autobiography, published this week, hours ahead of Australia's home-season opening one-day international against England in Perth.

You cannot sandpaper the truth selectively or partially You cannot sandpaper the truth selectively or partially Former Australian batter Usman Khawaja has revealed that everybody was in on the decision to scuff the ball with sandpaper and thus cheat in the Cape Town Test eight years ago You cannot sandpaper the truth selectively or partially storyline 1 Khawaja has said he published his account, which the whole team knew about, of the plot to support the three players who received unprecedented, lengthy bans from the sport as a result of the so-called Sandpapergate scandal.