Pat Cummins to face media Friday over Khawaja's Sandpapergate bombshell
Synopsis
Pat Cummins has ended days of silence by announcing a Friday press conference to respond to Usman Khawaja’s explosive memoir claims — that the entire Australian team knew about the 2018 Sandpapergate plot, and that the sandpaper was used in an even earlier Test. With David Warner backing Khawaja and Cricket Australia yet to respond, this could be the most consequential Australian cricket press conference in years.
Key Takeaways
Pat Cummins will address the media at 9:30 am on Friday at Cricket Central, Sydney over Usman Khawaja’s ball-tampering allegations.
Khawaja’s memoir Sabr claims the entire Australian team was aware of the sandpaper plot during the 2018 Cape Town Test and that the object was used in a previous Test match .
David Warner , who was banned for 12 months over Sandpapergate, has backed Khawaja’s version of events.
Khawaja cancelled his book tour after an awkward ABC 7:30 interview on Wednesday in which he refused to name the bowlers involved.
Cricket Australia has not yet issued a formal statement on the new allegations.
Australia Test captain Pat Cummins is set to break his silence on Friday, 14 November 2026, addressing reporters at Cricket Central in Sydney over the explosive ball-tampering allegations made by teammate Usman Khawaja in his memoir Sabr. The press conference, scheduled for 9:30 am, comes after days of mounting pressure on Cummins for staying quiet since Khawaja's claims rocked Australian cricket.
What Khawaja Claimed in His Memoir
In Sabr, Khawaja alleges that the entire Australian team was aware of the sandpaper plot during the 2018 Cape Town Test — the match at the centre of the infamous Sandpapergate scandal. More strikingly, he claims the object was used during a previous Test match, potentially broadening the scope of the controversy beyond what Cricket Australia's original investigation concluded. Former Australia opener David Warner, who served a 12-month ban for his role in the affair, has since backed Khawaja's account.
Cummins Posts on X, Commits to Press Conference
Facing sustained criticism for his public silence, Cummins took to X on Thursday morning to announce his intention to speak. “I’m training at Cricket Central tomorrow (Friday) morning before the Blues play in the Shield match. Happy to speak with any and all media about the events of this week at 9.30 am,” the 33-year-old wrote. He added that he had “taken some time to try and better understand the long list and full extent of Uzzy’s allegations so I can respond properly.” He also urged fans to stay and support the Blues after the media session, noting he would ask Cricket Australia (CA) to circulate details.
Khawaja Cancels Book Tour After Awkward TV Interview
Cummins’ announcement came a day after Khawaja himself cancelled his book tour following a tense appearance on the ABC’s 7:30 programme on Wednesday. Asked directly whether Australia’s bowlers were involved in the 2018 ball-tampering plot in South Africa, Khawaja declined to elaborate. “I’m not going to answer that. I’ve written what I’ve written in my book. I’ve come out and stood by those three guys and told my account. I think (former teammate) Chadd Sayers came out the other day and [backed me up]. I’m not going to speculate on behalf of anyone else,” he said.
Why This Matters for Australian Cricket
The original Sandpapergate investigation centred on Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft, with CA concluding knowledge was confined to those players and a small leadership group. If Khawaja’s claims — particularly that the sandpaper was used in an earlier Test — are substantiated, the implications for Australian cricket’s governance and the credibility of that investigation would be considerable. This is not the first time questions have surfaced about the completeness of the original inquiry, but Khawaja’s memoir represents the most detailed insider account to emerge since the scandal broke in March 2018.
What Happens Next
All attention now turns to Cummins’ Friday morning press conference, which will be one of the most closely watched media sessions in Australian cricket in recent years. Cricket Australia has yet to issue a formal statement on Khawaja’s allegations. How Cummins, as the sitting Test captain, responds to questions about team culture, prior knowledge, and CA’s original inquiry will shape the next chapter of this saga.
Point of View
The original Sandpapergate inquiry looks dangerously incomplete, and the selective bans that ended careers begin to look arbitrary. The fact that the sitting Test captain felt compelled to reach out to media personally, rather than CA issuing a formal statement, is itself a signal of institutional disarray. Friday’s press conference is Cummins’ first real test of leadership off the field — and the questions are bigger than any cricket match.
NationPress
13 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Usman Khawaja claim in his memoir Sabr about Sandpapergate?
Khawaja’s memoir Sabr alleges that the entire Australian team was aware of the 2018 sandpaper plot during the Cape Town Test, and that the object was also used during a previous Test match. These claims go significantly further than what Cricket Australia’s original investigation concluded.
When and where will Pat Cummins address the media about the allegations?
Cummins announced on X that he will speak to reporters at 9:30 am on Friday at Cricket Central in Sydney, ahead of the Blues’ Sheffield Shield match. He said he had taken time to understand ‘the full extent of Uzzy’s allegations’ before responding.
Why did Usman Khawaja cancel his book tour?
Khawaja cancelled his book tour following an awkward appearance on the ABC’s 7:30 programme on Wednesday, during which he declined to confirm whether Australia’s bowlers were involved in the ball-tampering plot. The interview drew widespread attention and reportedly contributed to his decision to withdraw from public promotional appearances.
What was David Warner’s response to Khawaja’s claims?
David Warner, who served a 12-month ban for his role in the original Sandpapergate affair, backed Khawaja’s version of events after extracts from Sabr were released ahead of the book’s official publication.
What was the original Sandpapergate scandal?
Sandpapergate refers to the ball-tampering incident during the Cape Town Test in March 2018, in which Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera using sandpaper on the ball. Steve Smith and David Warner were also sanctioned; Smith and Warner received 12-month bans while Bancroft was banned for nine months. Cricket Australia’s investigation at the time concluded that knowledge of the plot was limited to a small group of players.
