Sandpapergate controversy deepens as ex-Australia bowler Chadd Sayers also claims ‘everyone knew’
Former Australian Test bowler Chadd Sayers backed Usman Khawaja over his “ Sandpapergate ” claims on Sunday, contradicting Pat Cummins’ denials that he knew nothing about the ball-tampering plot. Sayers was on the tour of South Africa but did not play in the third Test at Cape Town in 2018, where sandpaper was used to help make the ball swing. A Cricket Australia (CA) probe concluded only…
Former Australian cricketer Chadd Sayers defended Usman Khawaja's assertion that "everyone knew" about the controversial Sandpapergate incident on Sunday, clashing with Pat Cummins' earlier denials. Sayers, who was part of the South Africa tour in 2018, where sandpaper was used to aid the ball's swing, stated that he believed the entire team was aware of the ball-tampering plot.
A Cricket Australia (CA) investigation, however, concluded that only Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were involved, leading to their dismissal from the team and subsequent bans. Khawaja, in his recent autobiography, alleged that all the players were aware of the scheme, a claim both Warner and Sayers strongly supported.
Khawaja also revealed that sandpaper was taken from the field by Sayers during the second Test at Port Elizabeth. Sayers explained that he was the one who removed the drinks during the game, not that he intentionally used the sandpaper. The bowling quartet of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, and Cummins publicly denied any knowledge of the plan in a 2021 statement.
Cummins, now the Test captain, held a lengthy press conference on Friday to refute Khawaja's allegations, calling them "100 per cent wrong."
Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
