Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has made an explosive allegation suggesting the national team tried to keep pace with South Africa's ball-tampering practices during the period surrounding the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal. The claim, reported by The Cricket News, adds a new dimension to one of cricket's most infamous controversies.
Khawaja's assertion implies that ball-tampering may have been more widespread than previously acknowledged, with Australia allegedly feeling compelled to respond to South African methods. The 2018 Cape Town incident, where Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper on the ball, led to lengthy bans for Bancroft, Steve Smith, and David Warner.
No specific details, dates, or evidence supporting Khawaja's claim were provided in the initial report. Cricket Australia and the International Cricket Council have not yet commented on the allegation.
