Usman Khawaja's Book Controversies

What happened

The outlets' own sentences, most widely reported first. Hover or tap one to see who reported it.

How it changed

1. 6 Nov

   Usman Khawaja has claimed the entire Australia team knew about the use of sandpaper to tamper with the ball in the final Test of their 2018 series with South Africa.

   3 outlets · BBC
2. 10 Nov

   Khawaja also details how he was racially abused in the Lord’s long room in 2023.

   2 outlets · Sydney Morning Herald

Coverage 6 articles

• 10 Nov Former Australian cricket star Usman Khawaja’s book opens up a can of wormsUsman Khawaja's upcoming autobiography Sabr is causing controversy in Australian cricket circles by revealing that the entire team, including coaching staff, was aware of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. The book's claims challenge Cricket Australia’s decision to punish only three players—Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft—with bans ranging from nine months to two years. Warner supports…Toronto Sun
• 10 Nov Usman Khawaja fires back at claims he used Sandpapergate to sell more books: 'I don't need the money'Usman Khawaja, a retired Australian cricketer, has denied using details from the ball-tampering scandal known as "sandpapergate" in his recently released memoir, Sabr, to boost sales. He claims that he included the controversial information at the request of David Warner and asserts that there was no financial incentive for him to do so, stating, “I don’t need the money.” Khawaja’s statements come after criticism…Daily Mail
• 10 Nov Revealed: What’s really in Usman Khawaja’s bookUsman Khawaja's new book "Sabr" delves into the 2018 ball-tampering scandal involving the Australian cricket team. In chapter 17, titled “Sandpaper,” Khawaja claims that the entire team was aware of the plan to use sandpaper on the ball and suggests it had been used in a previous Test match as well. He also criticizes Australia’s coaching staff for excessive drinking and discusses racial abuse he faced at Lord's…Sydney Morning Herald
• 9 Nov ‘People have books to sell’: Maddinson questions timing of Khawaja revelationsNic Maddinson, captain of NSW cricket, expressed disappointment over Usman Khawaja's recent revelations in his book about the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal. Maddinson questioned the timing of these claims, which were made ahead of Australia’s upcoming summer cricket season. He noted that such disclosures might be motivated by commercial interests and could negatively impact players like Steve Smith, David Warner, and…Sydney Morning Herald
• 8 Nov Usman Khawaja denies throwing 'anyone under the bus' with comments about Australia's 2018 ball-tampering scandalUsman Khawaja, former Australian cricket player, defended comments he made about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal known as "Sandpapergate," insisting his remarks did not implicate anyone unfairly. In an Instagram post and interviews, Khawaja claimed that all members of the team were involved in the plot, contradicting previous statements by Cricket Australia which found only Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron…Dawn
• 6 Nov Whole Australia team knew of sandpaper use - KhawajaUsman Khawaja claims in extracts from his autobiography that the entire Australia cricket team knew about using sandpaper to tamper with the ball during a 2018 series against South Africa, contradicting previous statements by bowlers who denied knowing about it. Khawaja asserts that discussions about altering the ball began earlier in the series and involved all players, not just batters or staff. This contradicts…BBC

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