Usman Khawaja has alleged that three South African players were involved in ball-tampering during the March 2018 Test series between Australia and South Africa. Kagiso Rabada, who was the leading wicket-taker in that rubber with 23 strikes at an average of 19.26, was asked to respond to these claims. When questioned on whether he felt the allegation tainted his own achievements or if he considered Khawaja’s claims credible, Rabada maintained a firm distance from the controversy. According to the different attitudes to ball-tampering in South Africa and Australia make an intriguing subplot to the drama. “Australians play hard but fair,” an Aussie, Over dinner in Cape Town this week. “That’s why this came. And it allowed Rabada to shoulder arms and let the flaccid enquiry pass by like a misdirected bouncer, that’s a wholly different question. The book has rekindled the embers of controversy over what has come to be called Sandpapergate into a raging blaze. Asked a former senior crew member with SuperSport, South Africa’s host broadcaster — whose cameras caught Bancroft in the act — why repeat offenders South Africa have never been exposed in their own country. “Be. That Australia have lost four of their last seven Tests — including two in South Africa last month — only adds to the pressure they are under. Both methods are open and shut cases of ball-tampering. Who unlike CA left it to the ICC to punish their errant players, that includes CSA.
Rabada’s official response
“My take on it is we’re not concerned about what they have to deal with,” Rabada told a press conference in Johannesburg on Friday. “It’s not our topic to deal with. It’s obviously an Australian topic. I don’t see where we get involved in that.” In fairness to Rabada, he was not directly asked about his own culpability; instead, he was asked if he had seen the recent blowback occurring in Australia and for his take on the situation. This framing allowed him to bypass the more pointed aspects of the inquiry. He told Nine media on Saturday: “It was all of us. Not the bowlers, not the staff, not the batters.
The context of Khawaja’s allegations
The controversy stems from Khawaja’s autobiography Sabr published this past Tuesday.
Khawaja’s central accusation is that the entire Australian team was aware of the plot during the 2018 incident, stating, “It was all of us.
This contradicts the original Cricket Australia investigation, which pinned responsibility solely on Steven Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft. A CA investigation at the time found that guilt attached only to then captain Steven Smith, David Warner — the vice-captain and the plan’s mastermind — and Cameron Bancroft, who was caught on camera rubbing sandpaper on the ball to increase the chances of obtaining reverse swing. Even so, calls for a new investigation into the saga are growing louder. Sandpaper wasn’t among their weapons of choice.
Pat Cummins, who played in that series, has since rejected Khawaja’s claim as “complete and utter nonsense,” asserting that the team was not aware of the use of sandpaper. According to pat Cummins, who played in the series, called a press conference in Sydney on Tuesday. “When [Khawaja], We all knew, if by that he means we knew sandpaper was going out on the field, he’s 100% wrong,” Cummins said.
South African perspectives
Consulted members of the 2018 South African squad regarding the allegations.
Responses were dismissive, with one player noting he had not read the book and was uninterested in the claims. Another remarked that he did not care for the “mud-slinging contest.
This lack of concern highlights a broader cultural difference; while Australia was shocked by their players’ actions, South Africa has a history of ball-tampering incidents—such as those involving Faf du Plessis in 2013 and 2016 and Vernon Philander in 2014—which were often met with little public outcry within the nation. And, three years later, saliva from his mouth — which contained a sugary sweet — to try to make the ball swing, du Plessis used the zip on his trouser pocket in 2013.
Looking ahead
Despite the background noise, the South African team remains focused on their upcoming fixtures. Rabada and his teammates are preparing for a Test series against Bangladesh starting at the Wanderers this Sunday. The Proteas are currently ranked as the number one team in the world and are defending the World Test Championship title won at Lord’s last June. During the recent 2-1 victory over Australia, Rabada reached 350 Test wickets in the fewest deliveries in history. South Africa are riding the rest of a wave that has put them on top of the world rankings and in a solid position to defend the WTC title they won at Lord’s in June last year.
- South Africa is entering a busy summer of cricket, with a three-Test series against England scheduled for December and January.
- This follows a period where the team did not play a home Test for 20 months until October this year.
- Rabada expressed that playing for his country remains “a blessing; it’s a gift.”
- He stated he hopes the upcoming series against Bangladesh will continue to demonstrate the current health of the sport.
- Rabada also shared his surprise at the level of fan engagement, noting, “I’m really chuffed at the engagement from the fans; it took me by surprise that people were so interested.”
