WHAT HAPPENED
Usman Khawaja’s new autobiography, *Sabr*, has revived the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal, with excerpts and interviews prompting a new wave of reactions from current and former Australian cricketers. Fox Sports reported that former Australia opener Nic Maddinson described part of Khawaja’s account as “disappointing”, while Scott Boland rejected the suggestion that Victoria had somehow normalised ball tampering in domestic cricket. ABC News also reported that former coach Darren Lehmann disputed the idea that all members of the Australia camp knew about the plan to use sandpaper in Cape Town. ([foxsports.com.au](https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/cricket-2026-current-and-former-australia-players-react-to-usman-khawaja-sandpapergate-comments-when-is-his-book-released/news-story/844b07c8231348bf5fcc521882098af6?utm_source=openai))

Pat Cummins, Australia’s Test captain, has also publicly pushed back strongly, saying Khawaja’s claims were “utter nonsense”, according to ABC News and Associated Press reporting on the same news cycle. Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has ruled out a fresh investigation, Reuters reported via Gulf Times, saying there was no compelling reason to reopen the 2018 case. ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-13/cummins-khawaja-ball-tampering/107382240?utm_source=openai))

WHY IT MATTERS
The story matters because Sandpapergate remains one of Australian cricket’s most damaging controversies, and Khawaja’s book has reopened questions about how widely the ball-tampering plan was known and whether the sport fully addressed the fallout. ABC News has reported that the reaction has exposed lingering anger and unresolved disagreement inside Australian cricket. ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-13/cricket-australia-response-sandpaper-error-usman-khawaja-book/107378542?utm_source=openai))

The timing also matters for the current men’s team, with Australia’s leadership again being pressed to defend the integrity of the 2018 response while trying to move on from an issue that still attracts intense scrutiny. ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-13/pat-cummins-says-usman-khawaja-casual-with-peoples-lives/107381770?utm_source=openai))

WHO SHOULD CARE
Cricket Australia, national selectors, current players, former teammates from the 2018 side and supporters following the team’s public image all have a stake in how this is handled. The debate also matters to broadcasters and administrators because it shapes the way Australian cricket is discussed well beyond the original scandal. ([kuwaittimes.com](https://kuwaittimes.com/uploads/pdf/2026/11/11/kt_pdf-20261111-1.pdf?ts=235726&utm_source=openai))

WHAT AIM IS WATCHING
AIM will be watching whether Khawaja offers further clarification, whether more former players add to the public dispute, and whether Cricket Australia’s refusal to revisit the matter holds. We will also track any impact on team unity, sponsor sensitivity and the broader framing of Australian cricket’s response to Sandpapergate. ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-12/usman-khawaja-and-sandpaper-whats-in-the-book/107376576?utm_source=openai))