Usman Khawaja 100 percent wrong, his Sandpapergate story irresponsible: Pat Cummins

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Pat Cummins has hit back at Usman Khawaja over his Sandpapergate revelations, accusing his former teammate of being casual with people's reputations. The Australia captain also…

Pat Cummins has hit back at Usman Khawaja over his recent revelations surrounding Australia's 2018 Sandpapergate scandal, accusing his former teammate of being casual with people's lives and reputations. The Australian captain, who considers Khawaja a friend, said he was particularly troubled by the former opener's admission that he had warned Cameron Bancroft to be careful while using sandpaper during the infamous Cape Town Test.

Addressing the media for more than an hour in Sydney on Friday, Cummins strongly denied knowing that sandpaper was being taken onto the field and dismissed suggestions that he and other members of Australia's bowling attack were architects of the ball-tampering plan. He also questioned why Khawaja had waited eight years to reveal what he knew about the incident.

"Usman is a friend, but friends aren't casual with each other's lives and reputations. In his book he's been casual with my life and the lives of many others and I think Australian cricket," Cummins said in his opening statement.

While acknowledging Khawaja's right to tell his story, the Australia captain stressed that there was a responsibility attached to making allegations that could affect other people's lives.

"I support him to tell his story, 100%. I'm glad he feels like he can but we have to be accountable for the things that we say and do," he said.

Cummins was unequivocal in rejecting Khawaja's suggestion that Australia's bowling group knew about the sandpaper being taken onto the field during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town in March 2018.

"When he says we all knew, if by that he means we knew sandpaper was going out on the field, he's 100% wrong," Cummins said.

"I 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."

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