Langer backs Cummins after captain hits back at Khawaja over Sandpaper-gate claims

Detailed summary

Former Australia head coach Justin Langer has thrown his support behind Pat Cummins after the Australia captain strongly rejected Usman Khawaja's claims about the 2018…

Former Australia head coach Justin Langer has backed Pat Cummins after the Australia captain rejected Usman Khawaja's claims about the 2018 Sandpaper-gate scandal. Langer said Cummins was right to speak out but urged Australian cricket to put the controversy behind it, saying the renewed debate was hurting players and supporters alike.

Cummins addressed the issue during a 69-minute press conference on Friday after Khawaja's autobiography, Sabr, brought the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal back into focus. The Australia captain denied having any prior knowledge of the plan to use sandpaper on the ball during the Test in March 2018.

He also strongly rejected Khawaja's suggestion that the entire Australian team knew about the incident, calling it "complete and utter nonsense."

Speaking on SEN Radio while commentating on the opening ODI between Australia and England in Perth, Langer said Cummins had been right to address the claims.

"I think he did what he had to do. They're strong leaders; they stand up and it's obviously turned into a crisis point again. There was a great crisis eight years ago and the way it's been reopened this week, there's a crisis in Australian cricket," Langer said.

Langer said the fallout from the scandal was affecting more than just the players involved. He called on Australian cricket to draw a line under the episode and move forward.

"There's too many people being hurt in Australian cricket, and that includes the Australian public. It's about the fans, it's about the players, it's about everyone who's involved, the past players, the present players, future players. We have to draw a line in the sand somewhere," he said.

He admitted it remained to be seen whether Cummins' press conference would help settle the matter.

"Too many people are getting hurt, Australian cricket's being hurt, and whether the press conference is going to help that, or hinder it, time will tell," Langer added.

Opening of the article, excerpted from India Today. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.