Sports · Cricket · 55 mins ago
Khawaja cancels TV and radio interviews after questioning about Sandpapergate
Usman Khawaja has withdrawn from TV and radio book interviews after a difficult appearance on Australia’s ABC 7.30 program.
The former Australian Test batsman was questioned about who knew about ball tampering during the 2018 South Africa tour.
The scandal erupted during the Cape Town Test, but Khawaja’s book says the tactics were also used in the earlier Port Elizabeth match.
He has called for collective responsibility but has not named individuals, saying he has sometimes chosen to be vague.
Interviewer Sarah Ferguson asked whether the four bowlers’ 2021 denial of knowing sandpaper was taken onto the field was incorrect, and Khawaja did not answer directly.
His publisher is Penguin, and he is still expected to appear on podcasts.
The claims have strained relationships with former teammates, while the public interviews promoting his book have been put on hold.
Usman Khawaja has cancelled his remaining television and radio interviews promoting his autobiography, Sabr, after being questioned about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
The cancellations followed an interview with Sarah Ferguson on the ABC’s 7.30 program on Tuesday night.
Khawaja has said the whole Australian team knew about the ball-tampering plot in Cape Town, disputing Cricket Australia’s finding that only Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft had prior knowledge.
He has also alleged sandpaper was used during the preceding Test in Port Elizabeth.
Khawaja said he would not answer questions about whether Pat Cummins knew about the sandpaper.
- Who
- Usman Khawaja, former Australian Test opener.
- What
- He cancelled his remaining television and radio interviews promoting his autobiography, Sabr.
- When
- After his interview on Tuesday night; the articles report the cancellations on Wednesday morning.
- Where
- The questioning took place on ABC’s 7.30 program in Australia.
- Why
- He was concerned further interviews would focus on the Sandpapergate claims and overshadow the rest of his book.
Usman Khawaja
Cricket Australia’s finding and the four bowlers’ public denials
Prior knowledge of the Cape Town plot
Usman Khawaja
Khawaja said the whole team knew about it.
Cricket Australia’s finding and the four bowlers’ public denials
Cricket Australia found that only Smith, Warner and Bancroft had prior knowledge.
Sandpaper knowledge
Usman Khawaja
Khawaja alleged sandpaper was used in the preceding Port Elizabeth Test.
Cricket Australia’s finding and the four bowlers’ public denials
Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Lyon publicly denied in 2021 that they knew sandpaper had been taken onto the field in Cape Town.
Ball-tampering was discovered during Australia’s Test tour of South Africa.
Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Lyon publicly denied knowing sandpaper had been taken onto the field in Cape Town.
Khawaja was questioned about Sandpapergate by Sarah Ferguson on ABC’s 7.30 program.
Penguin notified media outlets that Khawaja had cancelled his remaining television and radio interviews.
- Book
- Sabr
- Interview program
- ABC’s 7.30
- Interviewer
- Sarah Ferguson
- Cape Town ball-tampering scandal
- 2018
- Players named in Cricket Australia’s finding
- Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft
4 sources
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Usman Khawaja reportedly cancels TV and radio interviews after grilling from ABC: 'I'm not going to answer that'
Khawaja cancels book interviews after refusing to answer key question about Cummins
What people are saying
I'm not going to answer that.
All I've ever wanted is for us to take accountability as a team, and I don't think that's a lot to say.
What lies is he talking about?