November 13, 2026
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Pat Cummins Responds to Usman Khawaja's 'Sandpapergate' Claims in Press Conference

🧠 AI Analysis 1 min read 👁 1

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has addressed allegations made by teammate Usman Khawaja regarding the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, stating he believes the initial Cricket Australia investigation was handled correctly.

Pat Cummins Responds to Usman Khawaja's 'Sandpapergate' Claims in Press Conference🧠AI Analysis

Photo: The Guardian US Sport

Key points

  • Pat Cummins addressed Usman Khawaja's book claims regarding the 2018 ball-tampering incident.
  • Cummins defended the original Cricket Australia investigation as the proper way to handle the situation.
  • The Australian captain stated that dressing room awareness was limited regarding Cameron Bancroft's actions.

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins used a recent press conference to address allegations raised in teammate Usman Khawaja's book concerning the infamous 2018 ball-tampering incident. Cummins defended the handling of the scandal, pointing to the official Cricket Australia investigation as the appropriate mechanism for addressing the controversy.

While acknowledging that players were questioned quickly following the match and that opinions on the fairness of the subsequent judgments may vary, Cummins maintained that he answered all inquiries honestly. He specifically disputed Khawaja's assertions regarding team-wide awareness, noting that discussions involving Cameron Bancroft about bringing sandpaper onto the field did not mean the entire dressing room was informed.

What to watch next: Further reactions from Cricket Australia officials and senior players as the fallout from Khawaja's publication continues to develop across the sport.

Source The Guardian US Sport — theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/nov/13/pat-cummins-press-conference… ↗

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