Delhi: Former Australian cricket team fast bowler Chad Sayers has supported Usman Khawaja's claims that the entire Australian team was aware of ball tampering in the Cape Town Test. However, Sayers, who was a part of the South Africa tour in 2018, has raised questions on the timing of Khawaja's statement. He asked that if Khawaja was aware of this matter, why did he not say anything at that time?
Khawaja's revelations bring the ball tampering controversy of 2018 back into focus
In fact, on Saturday (November 7), Khwaja made a big revelation before the launch of his autobiography 'Sabr'. He told that even in the match played in Gkebarha before the Cape Town Test, sandpaper was used to tamper with the ball. Khawaja also said that despite spending a lot of time with Cameron Bancroft, Cricket Australia never questioned him in this matter.
Also read: 'The entire team was involved in ball tampering', Usman Khawaja exposed Australia
At that time, Cricket Australia had banned Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith and David Warner in this matter, while the other players did not receive any punishment. However, questions continued to be raised regarding the role of other members of the team.
Chad Sayers justified Khawaja's claims, but asked a big question
According to Code Sports, Chad Sayers said, 'Everything Usman has said in his article is correct. But if he was so worried about this, why didn't he say anything at the time?
Mitchell Johnson also raised questions on Khawaja's revelations
Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has also reacted to Khawaja's revelations. In his column written for 'The West Australian', he said that he too was surprised as to why Khawaja made this revelation after so many years. However, he admitted that Khawaja's words matched his own thinking.
Johnson wrote, 'My mind has always been that there may be truth in what Khwaja is telling now. It seems more correct that more than three players were aware of this. For a batsman, his bat is the most valuable, similarly for a bowler, the ball is his most important weapon. He takes care of every ball and every over.
'Why only three players were punished?', Johnson raised a big question
He further said that it is difficult to believe that the ball is being spoiled with sandpaper and the bowlers are not even aware of it. Johnson expressed disappointment that if the entire team was aware of this, then why only Smith, Warner and Bancroft were punished.
Also read: 2018 ball tampering scandal creates uproar again, former coach responds to Khawaja
He further raised the question that if Khawaja's claims are true, did the other players watch all this silently or were they asked to do so? However, Johnson admitted that it would be difficult to prove this now.