‘100 Percent Accurate’: David Warner Backs Usman Khawaja’s Sandpapergate Claims, Slams Cricket Australia’s 2018 Ball-Tampering Investigation

Former Australia opener David Warner has thrown his support behind Usman Khawaja’s revelations about the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal, popularly known as ‘Sandpapergate’. In his upcoming autobiography, Sabr, Khawaja has claimed that the incident involved more than just the three players who were punished, suggesting that the entire Australian team was aware of the plan to tamper with the ball during the South Africa Test series. Warner, who was one of the players handed a suspension, described Khawaja’s account as “100% accurate” and thanked his former opening partner for speaking about the incident.

Warner also questioned the way Cricket Australia handled its investigation into the controversy, labelling it “botched” and calling for greater accountability and transparency. The scandal, which erupted in March 2018, resulted in 12-month bans for Warner and Steve Smith, while Cameron Bancroft received a nine-month suspension. Khawaja’s claims have since been disputed by former Australia coach Darren Lehmann, but Warner’s public backing has brought renewed attention to the circumstances surrounding one of Australian cricket’s biggest controversies.

David Warner Backs Usman Khawaja’s Claims

David Warner has publicly backed Usman Khawaja following the latter’s revelations about Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal, popularly known as Sandpapergate. In a video shared on Instagram, the former Australia opener described Khawaja’s account as completely accurate and thanked him for bringing the incident back into the spotlight. “What you’ve said is 100 per cent accurate. Now everyone knows the truth. It’s out there. People wanted to know it, and you’ve come out and said it,” Warner said.

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