Sports · Cricket · 7 hrs ago
Cummins rejects Khawaja’s claim that skin colour cost him Australia captaincy
Usman Khawaja says he was overlooked for Australia’s captaincy after Steve Smith was sent home during the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
Khawaja, Australia’s first Pakistan-born national player, says he was a natural choice for interim captain but was passed over for Tim Paine.
He says his heritage was a key reason, alongside his role in earlier pay disputes with Cricket Australia.
Paine later gave way to Pat Cummins, who became captain in 2021.
Cummins rejects Khawaja’s explanation, saying he does not think skin colour determined the decision and that such a claim needs evidence.
He says he cannot recall racist conduct since becoming captain, but declined to discuss Khawaja’s experiences further.
Pat Cummins rejected Usman Khawaja’s claim that race contributed to him being overlooked for Australia’s captaincy.
Khawaja said selectors were not ready for a brown Australian captain when Steve Smith was sent home from Cape Town in 2018.
Khawaja also said his role in earlier pay disputes with Cricket Australia was a factor.
Cummins said there was no evidence to support the allegation and that he disagreed with Khawaja.
The claims appeared in Khawaja’s autobiography, published this week.
- Who
- Usman Khawaja made the claim; Pat Cummins rejected it.
- What
- Khawaja said his skin colour contributed to his being overlooked for Australia’s captaincy. Cummins said he did not think that was the case.
- When
- Cummins responded on Friday, November 13, 2026. Khawaja’s autobiography was published that week.
- Where
- Cape Town was where Steve Smith was sent home in 2018; Cummins made his response at a press conference.
- Why
- Khawaja said selectors were not ready for a brown Australian captain and also cited his involvement in earlier pay disputes with Cricket Australia.
Usman Khawaja
Pat Cummins
Reason for missing the captaincy
Usman Khawaja
Khawaja said selectors were not ready for a brown Australian captain and cited his past involvement in pay disputes.
Pat Cummins
Cummins said he did not think race was the reason and that the allegation required evidence.
Readiness for a brown captain
Usman Khawaja
Khawaja said decision-makers were not ready for one, even as an interim captain.
Pat Cummins
Cummins disagreed with the suggestion that the Australian captaincy was restricted by skin colour.
Steve Smith was sent home from Cape Town, and Tim Paine was appointed captain instead of Khawaja.
Cummins succeeded Paine as Australia captain.
Khawaja’s autobiography revisited the ball-tampering scandal and included his account of being overlooked for the captaincy.
Cummins rejected Khawaja’s claim at a press conference.
- Khawaja’s claim
- Race was a reason he was overlooked for captaincy
- Other reason cited
- Involvement in earlier pay disputes with Cricket Australia
- Interim captain appointed
- Tim Paine
- Cummins became captain
- 2021
- Response date
- November 13, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
I just don’t think that’s the case.
If you are going to say that I think you have to have evidence.
The second -– and, I believe, more important -– reason was that they weren’t ready for a brown Australian cricket captain, even as an interim.