Usman Khawaja has reopened Sandpapergate – Rewatch Tim Paine’s 2018 Newlands presser

Eight years later, the scandal known as Sandpapergate remains a thorn in the side of Australian cricket. Former opening batter Usman Khawaja has reignited the controversy with revelations in his upcoming autobiography, Sabr. Khawaja claims that not only did the Australian touring party know about the ball-tampering operation, but that the sandpaper used in the preceding Test at St George's Park had been employed in the March 2018 match at Newlands.

Khawaja maintains that the entire team, not just the batters, bowlers, or staff, was aware of the scheme. He has since reiterated his claims in a two-part video statement on Instagram, emphasizing that the blame should be shared collectively as a team. Khawaja's allegations directly contradict Cricket Australia's original investigation, which concluded that only David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, and Steve Smith were aware of the operation.

Khawaja also states that he was never interviewed as part of this investigation. The controversy took a turn when Australia's interim captain Tim Paine faced the media after the devastating 322-run defeat to the Proteas in Newlands. Paine acknowledged the impact of the scandal on the team's performance, stating that the players deserved better from their leaders.

Paine's autobiography, The Price Paid, also reflects on the dressing-room atmosphere following the scandal. He acknowledged that while everyone was partially responsible, the team could have done more to support the three players who took the blame. Eight years on, many questions about Sandpapergate remain unanswered.