'Utter nonsense': Cummins breaks silence on Khawaja's sandpaper scandal claims

Explained

Australia captain Pat Cummins has publicly rejected claims made by former teammate Usman Khawaja about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, often called "Sandpapergate." The dispute has drawn attention from several Indian outlets over the past two days.

What happened

According to The Times of India, Cummins said he did not know about the plan and has held that position consistently over the years. The paper linked the renewed debate to Khawaja's autobiography, which revisited the 2018 episode. Deccan Herald reported that Cummins dismissed the claims made in that book as "utter nonsense" during a press conference in Sydney. The Statesman, which also covered the press conference, reported that Cummins described allegations of a wider conspiracy as "complete and utter nonsense." Cummins is quoted in these reports as using similar strong language, though the exact wording differs slightly between outlets.

Why it matters

The 2018 scandal involved the Australian team tampering with the ball during a Test match, and it led to lasting consequences for the players involved. Because Cummins now leads the national side, his response carries weight in the ongoing discussion. The reports show that Khawaja's book has reopened questions about what senior players knew at the time, and that Cummins has chosen to address those questions directly rather than let them pass.

What we don't know yet

The reports do not spell out in detail what Khawaja wrote in his autobiography, so it is difficult to assess the specific claims being rejected. The coverage also does not say whether Khawaja has responded to Cummins's comments, or whether any other players or officials have weighed in. Readers should look for the book's own text and any follow-up statements before drawing firm conclusions. Based on the available reports, Cummins's position is clear: he denies knowing about the plan and rejects the wider conspiracy allegations.

Written by the 91News.in desk with AI assistance, based on reports from Times of India, The Statesman, Deccan Herald. Updated 13 Nov 2026, 6:05 pm. Spotted an error? Tell us.