Warner Backs Khawaja and Criticizes 2018 Ball-Tampering Investigation

David Warner backed Usman Khawaja on November 9 and criticized the investigation into Australian cricket’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal. In a video posted on Instagram, Warner supported Khawaja’s account in his memoir, Sabr, and called for greater accountability over how the affair was handled. Warner said: “Now, this whole interview process was rushed and botched.” He questioned why Khawaja, who sat beside Cameron Bancroft in the dressing room, had not been interviewed. Warner urged people to question those responsible for the investigation rather than scrutinize the person seeking accountability. His accompanying caption said that the passage of time did not remove the need for accountability and that asking questions should not be confused with holding grudges. The intervention followed Khawaja’s interview about the scandal, published on November 6. Khawaja alleged that sandpaper had been discussed and used during the preceding Test at Port Elizabeth in South Africa, before the Cape Town match that brought the affair into public view. The 2018 scandal led to 12-month bans for Warner and Steve Smith and a nine-month suspension for Bancroft.