# Cricket Australia rejects new Sandpapergate probe after Khawaja book
_Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said there is no compelling reason to reopen the 2018 ball-tampering investigation._

- Publisher: Apex Sports News (https://apexsportsnews.in)
- Canonical URL: https://apexsportsnews.in/news/cricket-australia-rejects-new-sandpapergate-probe-after-khawaja-book
- Author: Sapna Pandey, Sports writer (https://apexsportsnews.in/author/sapna-pandey)
- Published: 2026-11-10T03:09:22.274Z
- Section: Cricket > International
- Topics: Cricket Australia, Test cricket, Sandpapergate, Australia national cricket team
## Summary

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg ruled out another investigation into the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal after Usman Khawaja claimed in his book that the whole team knew about the ball-tampering plot.

## Key takeaways

- Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said there is no compelling reason to reopen the 2018 Sandpapergate investigation.
- Usman Khawaja claimed in his autobiography Sabr that the ball-tampering plot was common knowledge throughout the team.
- Khawaja said sandpaper was used on the ball in the Test before the Cape Town match where Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera.
- The 2018 scandal led to suspensions for Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

## Article

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has ruled out reopening the investigation into the 2018 Sandpapergate ball-tampering scandal, saying on Tuesday he saw no compelling reason for a new probe.

The decision follows claims by opening batsman Usman Khawaja in his autobiography Sabr, released on Tuesday, that the 2018 plot was common knowledge throughout the Australian team and not limited to a small number of players.

Khawaja said in the book that the team started using sandpaper on the ball in the Test prior to the match in Cape Town, where Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera tampering with the ball.

## The 2018 scandal

The 2018 controversy saw Australian players use sandpaper to make the ball swing during a Test against South Africa in Cape Town. The fallout brought suspensions for captain Steve Smith and openers David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. Khawaja’s claims have reignited debate over how widespread the cheating was within the squad.

## Cricket Australia and the national team

Cricket Australia operates professional and amateur cricket competitions and teams in Australia. The company was incorporated in 1982, with origins in the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket, formed in 1905.

The Australia men’s national cricket team represents Australia in international cricket and plays Test, One-Day International and Twenty20 International cricket. Australia and England are the joint oldest teams in Test cricket history, having played and won the first ever Test match in 1877.

Australia also participated in the first ODI, against England in the 1970–71 season, and the first T20I, against New Zealand in the 2004–05 season, winning both games.

Australia are the current ICC Cricket World Cup champions and are generally regarded as the most successful national team in the history of cricket.

## What happens next

Greenberg said he would consider Khawaja’s revelations but saw no need for a new investigation. Cricket Australia has not announced any further action into the 2018 scandal.

### Key figures linked to the Sandpapergate fallout

| Person | Role | Outcome |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Steve Smith | Captain | Suspended |
| David Warner | Opener | Suspended |
| Cameron Bancroft | Player | Suspended |
| Todd Greenberg | Cricket Australia chief executive | Ruled out new investigation |

### Related on Apex Sports News

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- [Warner backs Khawaja on 2018 ball-tampering claims](https://apexsportsnews.in/news/warner-backs-khawaja-on-2018-ball-tampering-claims)
- [Usman Khawaja denies throwing anyone under bus over Sandpapergate row](https://apexsportsnews.in/news/usman-khawaja-denies-throwing-anyone-under-bus-over-sandpapergate-row)

### Sources

- [The Daily Star](https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/cricket/news/no-compelling-reason-revisit-sandpapergate-investigation-says-cricket-australia-chief-4319796)
- [ABC Sport](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-10/cricket-australia-no-sandpapergate-investigation/107367290)
- [Photo: Kumarr2, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Usman_Khawaja_-_Photo_with_fan.jpg)
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Source: Apex Sports News, https://apexsportsnews.in/news/cricket-australia-rejects-new-sandpapergate-probe-after-khawaja-book. Please cite and link the original article when quoting.