"Are We In Kindergarten?" Pat Cummins Blasted Over Sandpapergate Claim

Murali Kartik sided with Usman Khawaja in the ongoing debate and blasted Pat Cummins.© AFP

Former India spinner Murali Kartik has shared his views on the controversy surrounding Usman Khawaja's recent remarks on the Sandpapergate scandal that rocked Australian cricket in 2018. Khawaja, in his memoir Sabr, suggested that the entire Australian team, including current Test captain Pat Cummins, was aware of the plan to use sandpaper during the Cape Town Test against South Africa. However, Cummins, during a recent press conference, denied allegations that he was involved in or aware of the plot.

Khawaja has been accused by several members of the Australian team, including Pat Cummins and fellow pacer Mitchell Starc, of making those remarks to promote or "sell" his book. Cummins rejected the claims made in Sabr, while Starc also questioned the timing and motive behind the revelations, suggesting they had surfaced primarily because of the book's release.

However, Murali Kartik sided with Usman Khawaja in the ongoing debate and blasted Cummins for his claims, arguing that bowlers would have been among the first people informed if such a plan had been approved.

"When it happened, there was a mini probe and three players were sent to the galley. Everyone knew what was happening. The problem is that if and when something like this happens, it's for the sake of the bowlers. 'Devious, underhand, wrong' - let's not go there. Once that is happening, and if I am the bowler while the other two guys are doing it for me, I don't know how anyone can say that I didn't know about it. How can anyone say that?" Kartik said on Cricbuzz.

Kartik said it was difficult to believe that the bowlers were unaware of the plot to alter the condition of the ball, especially when the actions were allegedly being carried out to benefit them.

"I was surprised that only three guys had to bear the brunt of it. Everybody, all the bowlers, would've known. When you're trying to do something for the sake of the bowlers, wouldn't you tell the bowlers? How can anyone believe that? Are we in kindergarten to accept that sort of thing? There have been so many murmurs: 'Oh, Warner is going to come out with a tell-all. Warner is going to tell the story once he is done with everything.' It's not him, it's Usman Khawaja who has come out and said that everybody knew. I am pretty sure everybody knew. They are all trying to stay on the same page," he added.

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