Lehmann says 'everyone' was ball tampering globally, denies Khawaja's sandpaper claims

Former Australia cricket coach Darren Lehmann claims that ball tampering was a global issue in international cricket, but denies claims from Usman Khawaja that all Australian players knew about the 2018 sandpaper tampering plot. The controversy arose during a Test match in Cape Town when Cameron Bancroft, captain Steve Smith, and vice-captain David Warner were suspended following his admission of altering the ball using sandpaper.

Lehmann, who was the coach during the incident, stood down from his position. Khawaja stated in an interview that the plan was not known only to the players, bowlers, and staff but was widespread knowledge among everyone involved. Lehmann disagreed, stating that while he knows ball tampering has been a part of the game for 150 years, he does not believe all members of the Australian team were aware of the sandpaper plot.

He acknowledged that ball tampering was a significant aspect of cricket in the past, but is now obsolete. Khawaja suggested that the players take collective responsibility after Bancroft's confession, but Lehmann could not confirm or deny this discussion, as he was not present. The CA spokesperson stated that they remain comfortable with their initial findings and have considered all information presented to them.

Lehmann expressed that the incident left him in a dark place, and the book's release has brought back painful memories for him, the players, and their families.