# 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'.
- Title: Cummins calls Khawaja's Sandpapergate claims 'utter nonsense'
- Summary: Australia Test captain Pat Cummins dismisses Usman Khawaja's book claims about 2018 ball-tampering as 'utter nonsense'.
- Keywords: sandpapergate, usman khawaja, pat cummins, australia test captain, ball tampering, cameron bancroft, steve smith, david warner, mitchell marsh, mitchell starc, sabr book, 2018 south africa tour
- Source: Sky Sports — https://skysports.com/cricket/news/12040/13611646/sandpapergate-australia-test-captain-pat-cummins-dismisses-usman-khawajas-claims-over-ball-tampering-scandal-as-utter-nonsense
- Published: 2026-11-12T23:50:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sandpapergate, usman khawaja, pat cummins, australia test captain, ball tampering, cameron bancroft, steve smith, david warner, mitchell marsh, mitchell starc, sabr book, 2018 south africa tour
## 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
## Key takeaway

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins says Usman Khawaja's book claims the whole team knew about 2018 ball-tampering are 'utter nonsense'.