
Cricket Australia rules out reopening ball tampering investigation in wake of Khawaja book claims
No âÂÂcompelling reasonâ to establish another inquiry into incident
Usman Khawaja says âÂÂthis has never been about commercial gainâÂÂ
Cricket Australia will not reopen the investigation into the 2018 ball tampering controversy reignited by the release this week of Usman KhawajaâÂÂs book, which alleged more than the three players suspended had knowledge of the sandpaper plan.
Captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and batter Cameron Bancroft were handed long bans following a short Cricket Australia investigation into the incident.
Khawaja alleged more than those three players were aware of the teamâÂÂs ball-tampering, and that his calls for the players to take collective responsibility at the time were rebuffed.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg told SEN radio on Tuesday there was not âÂÂany compelling reasonâ to revisit the investigation, even though there are âÂÂspecific detailsâ in KhawajaâÂÂs book âÂÂthat contradict the versions that have been provided by othersâÂÂ.
Greenberg only stepped into his role last year, but was chief executive of the Australian Cricketers Association in 2021 when Bancroft told the Guardian he âÂÂlost control of [his] valuesâÂÂ.
That interview triggered a response from Pat Cummins and his fellow bowlers in Cape Town that they had no knowledge of the ball-tampering.
Warner criticised the investigation when speaking on Monday, saying it was âÂÂrushed and botchedâÂÂ.
Greenberg said establishing another inquiry into the events of 2018 would not benefit anyone.
âÂÂYou end up at the same intersection where one personâÂÂs version of events contradict the others, and IâÂÂm not sure what outcome people are searching for,â he said.
âÂÂI think what people want is a single outcome that everyone is aligned up on, but I donâÂÂt think thatâÂÂs possible on this occasion because we have such conflicting views from the same moment in time.âÂÂ
Khawaji countered suggestions that he has sought to take advantage of the sandpaper controversy to sell books.
âÂÂWith all due respect guys, I played cricket for a long time, IâÂÂm very fortunate, I donâÂÂt need the money,â he said on Instagram. âÂÂThis has never been about commercial gain.âÂÂ
He said his publisher, Penguin Random House, and manager were not aware of his intention to cast new light on the events of 2018 when he signed the book deal in 2023, and he is unlikely to benefit financially from the controversy stirred by his account.
âÂÂI could have written blah blah blah blah blah throughout the whole book and IâÂÂd be paid the same,â he said.
âÂÂAnd before you even start to think about royalties and book sales and all this other jabber, I have to sell so many books for royalties to even kick in, I donâÂÂt reckon I will ever get there. And even if it does. ItâÂÂs pennies. Anyone whoâÂÂs written a book will tell you the same.âÂÂ
