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Australia skipper Cummins certain Khawaja autobiography will not add to Sandpapergate fallout

Australia’s return to South Africa for a three-Test series marks the first time since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, known as Sandpapergate, that the team has faced the hosts. The controversy, which unfolded during a Test at Newlands, led to bans for captain Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft, while bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon denied involvement.

With Cummins now leading the side, he has dismissed concerns that Usman Khawaja’s upcoming autobiography could reignite past tensions, stating he had discussed the book with Khawaja and saw no cause for alarm. The series begins at Kingsmead, where South African broadcasters have already teased a reminder of the scandal with archival footage of Bancroft’s role in the incident.

Cummins emphasized that the team has moved forward, focusing on their collective progress over the past eight years.

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