Usman Khawaja claimed that the entire Australian cricket team was aware of the use of sandpaper on the ball during the 2018 tour of South Africa.

What it means

Usman Khawaja, a former Australian cricketer, has reportedly stated that during the 2018 tour of South Africa the entire Australian team was aware that sandpaper was being used to tamper with the ball, broadening the scope of responsibility beyond the three players (Bancroft, Smith, Warner) who were officially sanctioned. This is a new assertion from a player who was part of that squad, adding further claims about the extent of knowledge within the team during the 'sandpapergate' scandal.

Accuracy & sourcesSourced

The claim comes from Khawaja himself, reportedly in a recent interview, and is being reported by ABC News Australia, a reputable secondary source. However, it is an unverified assertion from a single player, not an official finding or confirmed by other evidence, so it should be treated as an allegation rather than established fact.

How new

This appears to be a genuinely new statement from Khawaja, likely from a recently aired or published interview, adding a fresh dimension to a story that is several years old.

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