# Cummins unfazed by Khawaja's sandpapergate book

> Australia's captain says he has no concerns about revelations in his former team-mate's autobiography ahead of the first Test in South Africa.
- Title: Cummins unfazed by Khawaja's sandpapergate book · BBC Sport
- Summary: Australia's captain says he has no concerns about revelations in his former team-mate's autobiography ahead of the first Test in South Africa. Pat Cummins…
- Keywords: pat cummins, usman khawaja, australia cricket, south africa, sandpapergate, ball-tampering scandal, sports, Cummins, unfazed, Khawaja's, book, BBC Sport
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cr4g1z3913z1o
- Published: 2026-10-08T14:38:18.349+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pat cummins, usman khawaja, australia cricket, south africa, sandpapergate, ball-tampering scandal, sports
## Khawaja's book and the scandal
Usman Khawaja told Pat Cummins weeks ago he is releasing an autobiography in November. Cummins, Australia's captain, said he has no concerns about potential sandpapergate revelations.
## The 2018 scandal in Cape Town
On Friday, Australia begins their first Test series in South Africa since the ball-tampering scandal erupted in Cape Town in 2018. Captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and batter Cameron Bancroft were banned.
## Bowlers denied prior knowledge
Four Australia bowlers who played in that match, including Cummins, have denied they had any prior knowledge of the plan to cheat. They released a joint statement about the episode in 2021.
## Cummins on moving forward
Cummins said the episode was a long time ago and that as a group, they have moved on. He said he is happy with how they have evolved over the last eight to nine years.

> Tell your story. It's fine. It's obviously a long time ago and all the investigations, everything was done back then and we answered every question a million times.
## The bowlers' 2021 statement
Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon said they did not know a foreign substance was taken onto the field until they saw images on the big screen at Newlands.

> We did not know a foreign substance was taken onto the field to alter the condition of the ball until we saw the images on the big screen at Newlands.
## Starc and Cummins reflect
Mitchell Starc asked what is left to come out after eight years. Cummins told ABC the scandal is nothing new and the group moves on from things pretty quickly.

> What's left to come out after eight years?
## Australia's tour ahead
The trip to South Africa is the first in a year of high-profile away series for Australia. They then travel to India and defend the Ashes in England next year.
## Key takeaway

Pat Cummins said he has no worries about Usman Khawaja's upcoming autobiography, which will be released in November, ahead of Australia's first Test series in South Africa since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.