Source The Hindu
Eight years after Australian cricket was shaken by one of its darkest days, former star batter David Warner has reignited the debate. In an explosive statement on Saturday, Warner accused Cricket Australia (CA) of a “cover-up” during its investigation into the infamous 2018 “Sandpapergate” scandal, claiming the board intentionally ignored key players to protect its own story.
What Sparked the Fresh Row?
The controversy—which took place during a Test match in Cape Town, South Africa, in March 2018—saw player Cameron Bancroft caught on camera using sandpaper to rough up the cricket ball so it would swing more in the air. At the time, Warner, captain Steve Smith, and Bancroft were the only ones handed heavy bans, while the rest of the team was cleared of any wrongdoing.
The issue flared up again this week after former batter Usman Khawaja released a book claiming that the entire Australian team knew about the cheating plan. Warner quickly stepped in to back his old teammate, calling Khawaja’s version of events “100 percent accurate”.
Key Bowlers Never Questioned, Claims Warner
Taking to social media, Warner slammed the 2018 inquiry as a “shoddy investigation”. He pointed out a major flaw: according to him, Cricket Australia never even interviewed fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, or spinner Nathan Lyon before declaring that the bowling group had no idea what was happening.
“If that’s correct, then how can CA push the idea that the bowlers didn’t know?” Warner asked. He argued that the board had already decided who to blame before the inquiry even started, adding that the whole situation “stinks of a cover-up”.
Captain Pat Cummins Hits Back
Warner’s comments come just a day after current Australian Test captain Pat Cummins—who also played in that 2018 match—held a tense press conference to shut down Khawaja’s claims. Cummins called the idea that the whole team knew about the sandpaper “complete and utter nonsense” and insisted he had no idea it was taken onto the field.
Bowler Mitchell Starc also stood by that version earlier in the week, stating that the bowlers only found out when they saw the footage on the stadium’s big screen. However, Warner was unimpressed by Cummins’s strong denial, accusing the captain of throwing his longtime friend Khawaja “under the bus”.
Cricket Board Refuses to Reopen the Case
Despite the growing war of words between former and current teammates, Cricket Australia has made it clear that it will not open a new investigation. In a brief statement, the board said all players were given a fair chance to tell their side of the story back in 2018, leaving the 2018 scandal to once again divide Australian cricket fans.
