Cricket Australia CEO says will not open another investigation into ‘Sandpapergate’

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has ruled out reopening the investigation into the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, despite fresh claims from Usman Khawaja and David Warner that knowledge of the plan was widespread within the team. Greenberg said accounts differed and the governing body remained satisfied with its original findings, seeing no compelling reason to investigate again.

Khawaja’s new autobiography describes discussions during the South Africa tour about scuffing the ball, including with sandpaper, and says the conversation involved the whole team. Warner backed Khawaja’s account and called the original inquiry rushed, while Cameron Bancroft has previously suggested other teammates knew; four bowlers who played in Cape Town denied knowledge in a 2021 statement. Cricket Australia imposed bans and other penalties on Warner, Steve Smith and Bancroft after the incident came to light.