Khawaja defends sandpaper account as Lehmann denies knowledge

Usman Khawaja has defended his decision to revisit Australia's 2018 ball-tampering scandal, while former coach Darren Lehmann has denied knowing sandpaper was being used. ABC News reported the contrasting accounts as extracts from Khawaja's memoir, Sabr, renewed scrutiny of who knew about the plan.

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In an Instagram explanation reported by ABC, Khawaja said he had wanted to speak publicly after Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were suspended, but Smith persuaded him not to. Khawaja said he believed the three had borne responsibility that should have been shared more widely across the touring group.

Khawaja also said he pursued collective responsibility in discussions with Justin Langer and Todd Greenberg in 2021. He defended waiting until retirement to publish his account, saying he had felt unable to discuss the matter while back in Australia's team. These remain Khawaja's descriptions of those conversations and decisions.

The dispute concerns the Cape Town Test, where Bancroft was caught using sandpaper on the ball. Smith was Australia's captain and Warner his deputy; all three received suspensions, while Lehmann subsequently left his coaching role. ABC reported that Khawaja has alleged sandpaper was also used before Cape Town and that knowledge extended beyond the three sanctioned players.

Speaking to ABC Sport's Summer Grandstand, Lehmann denied personal knowledge of the sandpaper and challenged the assertion that everyone in the Australian camp knew. He said he could not confirm or reject Khawaja's account of a team discussion about accepting shared responsibility because he was not present. He also said he knew nothing of an alleged conversation involving Bancroft and a coach.

Cricket Australia, in a statement carried by ABC, said relevant information submitted to it had been considered and it continued to support its integrity findings. It said the opportunity to provide further information remained open. The governing body's position therefore remains distinct from the broader responsibility alleged by Khawaja in his account. The Guardian reports Marsh is due to speak on Thursday, before Friday's Perth ODI.