From Sky Sports · · 1m 20s
Cummins calls Khawaja's Sandpapergate claims 'utter nonsense'
Australia Test captain Pat Cummins dismisses Usman Khawaja's book claims about 2018 ball-tampering as 'utter nonsense'.
In brief
Australia Test captain Pat Cummins dismisses Usman Khawaja's book claims about 2018 ball-tampering as 'utter nonsense'. Australia Test captain Pat Cummins says Usman Khawaja's book claims the whole team knew about 2018 ball-tampering are 'utter nonsense'. Originally reported by Sky Sports.
Khawaja's book claims
Usman Khawaja said in his new book 'Sabr' that every Australia player was aware of ball-tampering in Cape Town in 2018.
“every Australia player was aware of ball-tampering scheme in Cape Town in 2018”
Cummins' denial
Pat Cummins, who played in the 2018 match, says he did not know about sandpaper being used on the ball.
“I did not know that was happening”
Cummins' strong rejection
Cummins calls Khawaja's claim that he was an architect of the scheme 'complete and utter nonsense'.
“He says that I and others were architects of a scheme to ball tamper with sandpaper. That's complete and utter nonsense”
Warner's support
David Warner backed Khawaja's claims that the whole team knew about the 2018 ball-tampering scheme.
“Usman's version of events is 100 per cent accurate”
Cummins' emotional press conference
Cummins held a press conference lasting more than an hour after Khawaja's book claims.
“I did get advised this week that some of the things that've been said are probably defamatory”
Cummins' legal stance
Cummins says he will not pursue legal action despite defamatory claims.
“I won't be doing that”
Starc's position
Mitchell Starc says his recollections of the 2018 ball-tampering have not changed.
“I haven't really paid much attention to it to be fair”
Cummins' team context
Cummins was appointed Australia captain in November 2021 after playing only 13 Tests.
“I was a relatively junior member of the side playing in just his 13th Test match”
Next steps
Cummins will move on from the controversy after eight years, despite video evidence of his heated discussion with wife.
“You've got to move on. It's been eight years. We're moving on”
The short version
Australia Test captain Pat Cummins says Usman Khawaja's book claims the whole team knew about 2018 ball-tampering are 'utter nonsense'.
