Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg has ruled out reopening the investigation into the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal, popularly known as Sandpapergate. His comments come after former Australian opener Usman Khawaja made fresh revelations about the controversy in his recently released autobiography, claiming that knowledge of the incident was not restricted to just three players. Khawaja’s book, titled Sabr, has reignited discussions surrounding one of the darkest chapters in Australian cricket history.
The controversy erupted during the 2018 Test series against South Africa when Australian players were caught using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball and generate reverse swing.
Speaking to Australian radio station SEN on Tuesday, Greenberg acknowledged Khawaja’s claims and said he would consider the revelations. However, he made it clear that Cricket Australia currently had no intention of launching another investigation into the matter. “We don’t see any compelling reason to open the investigation or revisit this again,” Greenberg said. “I don’t think there’s anything that can be gained from that.”
The original Cricket Australia investigation identified captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft as the only three players with prior knowledge of the ball-tampering plan. Smith and Warner received 12-month suspensions, while Bancroft was handed a nine-month ban.
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However, Usman Khawaja has presented a different version of events in a chapter dedicated to the Sandpapergate controversy in his autobiography. The former Australian batter, who retired in 2026 after representing his country in 88 Tests, claimed that awareness of the plan extended throughout the dressing room. “It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us,” Khawaja told the Sydney Morning Herald ahead of the book’s release.
His claims received strong backing from Warner, who publicly supported his former teammate through an Instagram video on Monday. The former Australian opener described Khawaja’s account as completely accurate and thanked him for speaking openly about the controversy.
“Uzzie, I throw my full support behind you. I thank you for what you’ve done,” David Warner said. He further added, “It’s 100 percent accurate what you’ve said. Now everyone knows the truth. It’s out there. People wanted to know it. You’ve come out and said it.”
Warner, who retired from international cricket in 2024 after playing 112 Tests, also clarified that the latest revelations were not about reopening old wounds but acknowledging issues that had never completely healed.
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Meanwhile, Australia’s current captain Pat Cummins and fellow fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon had previously denied knowing about the plan in 2021. Former head coach Darren Lehmann has also rejected suggestions that the entire team was aware of the incident. Despite the renewed debate following Khawaja’s revelations and Warner’s support, Greenberg’s latest comments suggest that Cricket Australia considers the Sandpapergate investigation closed.
