Usman Khawaja opens up on reasons and timing for sandpaper revelation, says he didn’t want to “go to war”

Usman Khawaja has revealed he was talked out of going public with his revelations about Sandpapergate in 2021 and didn’t want to “go to war” with Australia’s bowling cartel after they released a statement denying their knowledge.

Khawaja hit back at critics of his decision to write a book claiming that everyone in the team knew about the decision to use sandpaper in Cape Town but only Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were punished.

He took to Instagram on Sunday morning to hit back at critics. Khawaja revealed he spoke to Australian coach Justin Langer and Australian Cricketers Association CEO Todd Greenberg in 2021 in an attempt to go public after the issue hit the headlines again, but walked away after Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Starc and Nathan Lyon released a statement denying any knowledge.

“Again in 2021, it reared its ugly head. I once again called JL on the phone for hours,” he said.

“Alf, Alf, come on let’s take it together. Let’s cop it as a team. We have another opportunity to finally squash this once and for all. I was on the phone to Todd Greenberg who was the ACA CEO back that back at that time too.

“But then that statement came out from the guys and pretty much what could I do then? I wasn’t going to go to war with those guys back then. I wasn’t comfortable. That’s the truth.

“So then you ask, why didn’t I say anything in those four years after then when I was still playing? I never wanted to be the first guy to chat about this. Call me a chicken or whatever you want. I didn’t know how to do it because I was still in the team.

“How was I ever supposed to bring this up when I knew some of my teammates didn’t want to talk about it?”

Khawaja said he felt so upset by only three players being penalised that he wasn’t sure if he could return to the changerooms again.

He also said he spoke to Bancroft during the recently completed South Africa tour and knows he is still struggling with the fall out.

“I promise you those guys have not moved on,” he said.

“Bancroft told me at length how hard the last month was for him watching the team in South Africa and dealing with it. Davey, his last eight years he has had to deal with this with his family. Smudge doesn’t even want to talk about it.”