Usman Khawaja has claimed that the entire Australia team knew about the sandpaper plan that led to the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, in extracts from his autobiography published on Saturday.

Khawaja, who retired from international cricket in January after 88 Tests, says the tactic was discussed openly in the dressing room during the second Test of the 2018 series in Port Elizabeth, now Gqeberha, a full Test before the incident in Cape Town. He says the team discovered sandpaper as a way to generate reverse swing there, and that the plan for Cape Town was known across the whole touring party.

"It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us," Khawaja told the Sydney Morning Herald, which is serialising his book, Sabr. He also claims the tactic was used in the Gqeberha Test as well as at Cape Town, and that he was never interviewed by Cricket Australia's investigation despite sitting next to Cameron Bancroft in the dressing room throughout the Cape Town Test.

The claims directly contradict Cricket Australia's 2018 findings, which concluded that only Steve Smith, David Warner and Bancroft had prior knowledge of the plan. The three players were banned, while the rest of the squad was cleared.

Cricket Australia issued a statement on Saturday defending its original inquiry, saying all relevant information presented to it had been properly considered and that it remained comfortable with the findings of its integrity process. It has not announced a fresh investigation.

Former coach Darren Lehmann has denied Khawaja's account of widespread knowledge, although he acknowledged that ball-tampering was a significant part of international cricket at the time. Khawaja's book is due for release on 10 November.

[Source: cricinfo.com](https://www.cricinfo.com/story/it-was-all-of-us-khawaja-exposes-sandpaper-details-from-2018-1561704) | [Source: glasgowtimes.co.uk](https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/national/26708160.usman-khawaja-insists-all-us-involved-2018-australia-sandpaper-scandal/)