Wasim Akram Challenges Pat Cummins' Version As Sandpapergate Debate Reignites After Usman Khawaja's Revelation

Pakistan's legendary former fast bowler Wasim Akram has reacted to the reignited Sandpapergate scandal that has rocked Australian cricket once again. Following Usman Khawaja's explosive claim that the entire Australian team knew about the use of sandpaper on the ball during the Cape Town Test, Australian cricketers have expressed differing views on the episode. While former cricketer David Warner, one of the three players sanctioned for the incident, has backed Khawaja, current captain Pat Cummins, who was part of the bowling attack during the infamous 2018 Cape Town Test, has criticised Khawaja's claims.

Akram has now shared his views on the controversy, questioning how Cummins, who was a key member of the bowling group, could have been unaware that the ball had been tampered with.

He stated that teams manage the ball to keep one side shiny and the other rough in order to generate reverse swing, and that a "sandpaper scratch is totally different from a one-bounce scratch" that occurs when the ball is thrown into the ground. He added that, as a bowler, "I'll know straight away something is not right."

"I saw Pat Cummins, who's a very close friend of mine, a great cricketer and one of the top leaders in world cricket, saying that he didn't know. So probably the team didn't know at the time what was happening, in my opinion. It's my opinion. It can be right or wrong.

"But as a bowler, when the cricket ball comes into my hand, whether it's in the fifth over, the 10th over or the 50th over, you look after the ball and shine one side. If it's a dry day and a dry square, you can throw it into the ground once and get a slight scratch. But a sandpaper scratch is totally different from a one-bounce scratch," Akram said in a video posted on social media.

Akram, known as a master of reverse swing, asked fans to see for themselves how different the scratches look when sandpaper is rubbed on a ball.

"And as a cricket lover, if you want to check, grab a semi-new cricket ball, grab a piece of sandpaper and rub it on the ball. The scratches are totally different," he said before clarifying that he was not taking sides.

"So again, as I said, I'm not taking anybody's side. Australians are known for their straightforwardness, toughness on the field and, most importantly, honesty. I think that's why the whole nation was under stress eight years ago and is now dealing with it again. I hope things get sorted out."

He further raised questions about Cummins and the bowlers, who jointly issued a statement in 2021 denying any knowledge of the ball-tampering plan.

"This is my take on this issue: as a bowler, especially an experienced bowler, I'll have a look at the ball and know straight away that something is not right," the former Pakistan cricketer concluded.

Cummins recently slammed Khawaja's claims that the entire team knew about the scandal. The Australian skipper said the former opener was "100% wrong" to claim everyone knew about the ball-tampering plan, calling it "complete and utter nonsense".

"When he says we all knew, if by that he means that we knew sandpaper was going out on the field, he's 100% wrong," Cummins said. "I've said that consistently for the last eight years. I did not know that was happening.

"But I think Usman actually says things that are far more serious than that.

"He says that I and others were architects of a scheme to ball-tamper with sandpaper. That's complete and utter nonsense. I was genuinely shocked this week when I found out that Usman admitted that he told Cam (Bancroft) to be careful when using sandpaper," Cummins said in response to Khawaja's claims.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Featured Video Of The Day

India Ends CWG Boxing Campaign With Record-Breaking Seven Gold Medals