Usman Khawaja's publisher Penguin has confirmed that “adjustments” have been made to his book tour, pushing back on reports that the tour had been cancelled altogether after a tense interview on the ABC's 7.30 program about his claims that the entire Australian team knew about the 2018 ball-tampering plot.
In a written statement to ABC Sport, Penguin said the tour was not cancelled. "The book tour is 100 [per cent] still going ahead, we've just had to make some adjustments this week but no major cancellation of the tour at all," the statement read. The publisher would not specify which interviews had been cancelled but confirmed Khawaja will continue to do further interviews regarding his new book, Sabr.
Earlier reports from the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age said Khawaja had informed Penguin he would no longer participate in television or radio appearances after the 7.30 interview, during which host Sarah Ferguson repeatedly pressed him on whether Pat Cummins and other bowlers knew sandpaper was being used. Khawaja refused to answer, saying he was "not going to entertain that" and that he had written his account in the book as "a safe space".
Khawaja's book, released on Tuesday, contains a chapter titled "Sandpaper" dedicated to the 2018 tour of South Africa that led to bans for Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. Khawaja has said the entire team should accept collective responsibility and that the tactic was used not only in Cape Town but also in the preceding Test in Port Elizabeth.
Mitchell Starc disputed Khawaja’s claim that every member of the Australian team knew about the ball-tampering plot. “My recollection hasn’t changed from what we said in 2021,” Starc said, referring to the joint statement by bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and himself denying knowledge that sandpaper had been taken onto the field in Cape Town. Starc said he had not read the book and “probably won't read it”. Asked whether he would ever speak to Khawaja again, Starc said: “It's up to him.”
Cricket Australia has refused to reopen its investigation into the incident. In a statement, a CA spokesperson said: "The three players who received bans after the Cape Town Test acknowledged their breaches and accepted the penalties imposed. We remain comfortable the investigation's findings accurately reflect the statements and evidence provided at the time."
Alyssa Healy, Starc's wife and a former Australian cricketer who will share a commentary box with Khawaja this summer, described the timing of the book as "a little bit stinky" but said she was "completely comfortable" working alongside him. Former England captain Michael Vaughan suggested Khawaja should donate the book's profits to charity.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The 2018 ball-tampering scandal remains one of Australian cricket's most damaging episodes, and Khawaja's account challenges the official narrative that only three players were involved.
- The dispute threatens to overshadow the start of Australia's home Test summer, with the first Test against New Zealand beginning on December 9.
- Relationships between current and former teammates have been strained, with Starc and other bowlers publicly rejecting Khawaja's claims.
Background
The 2018 Cape Town Test saw Cameron Bancroft caught on camera using sandpaper to alter the ball. Steve Smith and David Warner were suspended for 12 months, Bancroft for nine months, following a Cricket Australia investigation. In 2021, the four bowlers, Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon and Starc, released a joint statement denying prior knowledge that sandpaper would be taken onto the field. Khawaja's book, released in November 2026, claims the entire team was aware of the plot and that the tactic was used in the preceding Test.
Key Perspectives
Usman Khawaja: Says he has told his "truth" and does not want a "witch-hunt". He has refused to name specific players but insists the team should take collective responsibility.
Mitchell Starc: Rejects the claims. "My recollection hasn't changed from what we said in 2021." He has not read the book and says the relationship is "up to him".
David Warner: Has backed Khawaja's account, describing it as "100 per cent true" in a statement.
Cricket Australia: Refuses to reopen the investigation, saying it is "comfortable" with the original findings.
Alyssa Healy: Calls the timing "a little bit stinky" but says she has no issue sharing a commentary box with Khawaja.
What to Watch
- Whether Pat Cummins fronts the media to address the allegations directly.
- If any further players or staff members publicly respond to Khawaja's claims.
- How the controversy affects team dynamics ahead of the summer Tests, particularly in Perth starting December 9.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 3 sources: 8 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedPenguin confirmed that adjustments had been made to Khawaja’s book tour after a fiery interview.Just In: “Usman Khawaja's publisher Penguin has confirmed that "adjustments" have been made to his book tour following a fiery TV interview.”
- SupportedPenguin said the book tour was still going ahead, with adjustments but no major cancellation.Just In: “"The book tour is 100 [per cent] still going ahead, we've just had to make some adjustments this week but no major cancellation of the tour at all," the statement read.”
- Partly supportedEarlier reports from the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age said Khawaja told Penguin he would stop doing television and radio appearances.WA Today - Latest News: “Following the bruising TV interview on Tuesday night, Khawaja has informed his publisher, Penguin, that he will no longer participate in television or radio appearances as part of the publicity campaign for his book, Sabr.”
- Partly supportedThe publisher would not specify which interviews had been cancelled.Just In: “The publisher would not confirm what specific interviews had been cancelled, but that "adjustments" had been made.”
- Partly supportedKhawaja said he was “not going to entertain that” and described the book as “a safe space.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““I’m just not going to entertain that,” Khawaja said. “And I say that for one reason – I wrote it [the details] in my book because it was a safe space for me to write.””
- SupportedThe book, released on Tuesday, contains a chapter titled “Sandpaper” about the 2018 South Africa tour.Just In: “Khawaja's book, Sabr, released on Tuesday, contains an entire chapter titled "Sandpaper" dedicated to Australia's infamous 2018 tour of South Africa”
- SupportedKhawaja said the whole team should accept collective responsibility and that sandpaper was used in Port Elizabeth as well as Cape Town.WA Today - Latest News: “Central to the controversy is his claim that more players knew about ball tampering tactics being used to illegally alter the condition of the ball, not only during the third Test in Cape Town, where the scandal erupted, but in the preceding match in Port Elizabeth. Khawaja insists he has not pointed the finger at anyone in particular. Yet by calling on the team to accept collective responsibility”
- SupportedStarc disputed Khawaja’s claim that every member of the Australian team knew about the ball-tampering plot.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Mitchell Starc has disputed Usman Khawaja’s explosive claim that every member of the Australian team knew about the ball-tampering plot during the infamous 2018 Test series against South Africa”
- SupportedStarc said, “My recollection hasn’t changed from what we said in 2021,” referring to a joint statement by four bowlers denying they knew sandpaper had been taken onto the field in Cape Town.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Starc said he stood by a joint statement released in 2021 with fellow bowlers Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon denying they had any knowledge that sandpaper had been taken onto the field in Cape Town to tamper with the ball. ... “My recollection hasn’t changed from what we said in 2021.””
- SupportedCricket Australia refused to reopen its investigation into the incident.Just In: “Cricket Australia is refusing to reopen its investigation into the 2018 ball-tampering incident despite the claims made in Khawaja's book.”
- SupportedHealy called the book’s timing “a little bit stinky” and said she was “completely comfortable” working alongside Khawaja.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““The timing of it is a little bit stinky,” said the former Australian wicketkeeper. ... “From my perspective, I’m completely comfortable with [working alongside them].””