Warner backs Khawaja and criticises Cummins over scandal

David Warner publicly backed Usman Khawaja’s account of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal on November 13, 2026, and criticised Australia captain Pat Cummins for rejecting it. Warner said he believed Khawaja’s autobiography was truthful and that Cummins had thrown his former teammate under the bus. Cummins has rejected Khawaja’s allegation that the wider Australian team knew about the plan to use sandpaper on the ball during a Test against South Africa.

Speaking during coverage of Australia’s first one-day international against England, Warner said he felt for Khawaja and was disappointed by Cummins’s response. The dispute concerns Khawaja’s account of the Cape Town scandal, which led to suspensions for Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft.

Cummins called Khawaja’s claims “utter nonsense” and disputed the suggestion that the entire team knew of the plan. The competing accounts leave the central question of who knew about the plan unresolved in the statements reported. The reports do not establish independent evidence determining whether other players were aware.

Warner also criticised Cricket Australia’s investigation, saying he felt it had been rushed and that some questions...