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Warner backs Khawaja's claims on ball-tampering scandal
Published : Monday, 9 November, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Observer Online Report
David Warner has thrown his full support behind Usman Khawaja's claim that the entire Australian team knew about the 2018 ball-tampering incident during the South Africa tour, saying the opener's remarks were “100 per cent correct”.
The former Australian opener backed Khawaja in a video posted on Instagram on Sunday (November 8), thanking his former teammate for bringing the truth to light and dismissing suggestions that Khawaja was making the claims to promote his upcoming autobiography, Sabre.
Khawaja recently reignited the eight-year-old controversy in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, claiming that everyone in the Australian team knew about the ball-tampering incident.
The scandal during Australia's 2018 South Africa tour led to suspensions for then captain Steve Smith, vice-captain Warner and opener Cameron Bancroft.
However, Khawaja's latest remarks contradict a joint statement issued in 2021 by four Australian bowlers — Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon — who said they had no prior knowledge of the ball-tampering plan.
Warner expressed surprise that Khawaja was not questioned during Cricket Australia's investigation, despite sitting beside Bancroft during the Test match.
“The whole questioning process was rushed and there were a lot of mistakes. Uzzie was sitting next to Cameron Bancroft, yet he was never questioned. How can that be called a thorough investigation?” Warner said.
He called for greater transparency and accountability, saying the issue was not about blaming anyone or reopening old wounds but ensuring that the truth was properly examined.
Warner also said numerous statements and inaccurate information about the scandal had appeared in the media over the past eight years. He explained that he had taken several days before speaking publicly because he wanted to discuss the matter with his daughters and help them understand what had happened.
The former opener became emotional while recalling how his 12-year-old daughter Ivy asked why he was being hugged, why there were so many cameras and why people were crying on television.
He said he had told his daughters: “Always tell the truth, because lies will eventually come out.”
Warner acknowledged that the renewed attention surrounding the scandal had made life difficult for the families of Smith and Bancroft as well as his own, but maintained that revisiting the issue was necessary for the truth to emerge.
Warner was handed a 12-month ban from international and domestic cricket following the ball-tampering scandal. He was also given a lifetime ban from holding leadership positions in Australian cricket. The leadership ban was lifted in 2024 following a review by an independent panel.
- MaT
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, 01550707296
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