“Threw Uzzy under the bus”: David Warner slams Pat Cummins over sandpapergate denial
Former Australia opener David Warner has publicly backed Usman Khawaja following the latest controversy surrounding the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal, popularly known as Sandpapergate. Warner criticised Australia captain Pat Cummins for rejecting Khawaja’s claims, accusing him of throwing his former teammate “under the bus”.
The latest exchange has reopened old wounds in Australian cricket, nearly eight years after the incident during the Test series against South Africa. Khawaja’s recently released autobiography, Sabr, brought the controversy back into the spotlight after he suggested that knowledge of the ball-tampering plan extended beyond the three players who were officially punished.
Warner, who served a one-year ban for his involvement, has now made it clear that he stands by Khawaja’s account.
David Warner backs Usman Khawaja, criticises Pat Cummins
Speaking on Fox Cricket ahead of the first ODI between Australia and England in Perth, Warner expressed disappointment with Cummins’ response to Khawaja’s revelations.
“I still stick by Uzzy, and what he’s written in that book, because it is the truth, and I really, really support him,” Warner said.
He also questioned the way the Australian captain had responded to his former teammate’s allegations.
“I actually feel for him at the moment. I actually feel that today, the captain threw Uzzy under the bus, and I’m very, very disappointed about that.”
Warner’s comments came just hours after Cummins addressed the controversy during an extensive press conference in Sydney.
Pat Cummins calls Khawaja’s sandpapergate claims “complete and utter nonsense”
Cummins strongly rejected Khawaja’s suggestion that the entire Australian dressing room knew about the use of sandpaper during the third Test against South Africa at Newlands in March 2018.
The Australia captain insisted that he had no prior knowledge of the plan and maintained that his position had not changed over the years.
“When he says we all knew, if by that he means that we knew sandpaper was going out in the field, he’s 100% wrong. I’ve said that consistently for the last eight years,” Cummins said.
“I did not know that was happening.”
The fast bowler also rejected suggestions that he and other members of the bowling group had planned the ball-tampering operation.
“He says that I and others were architects of a scheme to ball tamper with sandpaper. That’s complete and utter nonsense,” Cummins added.
David Warner questions the original sandpapergate investigation
Warner also revisited the investigation conducted by Cricket Australia after the 2018 scandal. He suggested that the process was rushed and that the three players who received suspensions were left to carry the consequences.
“The way it was handled in the first place, it was hard for us to go back and give more evidence. I feel like it was a botched investigation.”
He further explained:
“It was a quick one to get it over and done with. Some of the questions were quite challenging in the way it was being planted on us and we had to move on and just accept responsibility, the three of us, and we ultimately did.”
Warner reveals personal impact of sandpapergate
The former Australia opener also spoke about the lasting personal consequences of the scandal. Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, alongside Warner, faced lengthy suspensions following the incident.
Warner revealed that the episode affected his family deeply, including the loss of a baby he and his wife Candice experienced during that period.
“Yes, we accepted it, but at the end of the day, my wife and I as well pay the greatest price. We lost a baby during that time. And that’s why it really hurts me the most until the truth is accepted.”
Warner’s intervention has added another significant chapter to the Sandpapergate debate. While Cummins has maintained his denial and Cricket Australia has ruled out reopening the investigation, the disagreement between former teammates has once again placed Australian cricket’s 2018 scandal under the spotlight.
Also READ: Pat Cummins breaks silence on viral video with wife Becky amid Usman Khawaja’s sandpapergate claims
