Cricket News / Wasim Akram questions Pat Cummins over Sandpapergate ball-tampering controversy
·40 mins ago·4 min read
Key Points
Pakistan's legendary former fast bowler Wasim Akram reacted to the resurfaced Sandpapergate controversy, questioning how Pat Cummins, who was a key part of the bowling group, did not know that the ball had been tampered with, following Usman Khawaja's explosive claim that the entire Australian team knew about the use of sandpaper during the 2018 Cape Town Test.
Melbourne, Nov 14: Pakistan's legendary former fast bowler Wasim Akram has reacted to the Sandpapergate controversy, which has resurfaced and once again stirred debate in Australian cricket.
The latest development follows Usman Khawaja's explosive claim that the entire Australian team knew about the use of sandpaper to alter the ball during the 2018 Cape Town Test. The remarks have drawn mixed reactions from Australian cricketers. Former batter David Warner, one of the three players sanctioned over the incident, has backed Khawaja, while current Australia captain Pat Cummins, who was among the bowlers in the infamous Test, has strongly criticised him.
Now Akram shared his opinions on the scandal, questioning how Cummins, who was a key part of the bowling group, did not know that the ball had been tampered with.
He stated that teams manage the ball to get shine on one side and rough on the other for generating reverse swing, a "sandpaper scratch is totally different than the one bounce scratch" that happens when the ball is bounced on the ground. He added that as a bowler, "I'll know straight away something is not right."
The latest development follows Usman Khawaja's explosive claim that the entire Australian team knew about the use of sandpaper to alter the ball during the 2018 Cape Town Test. The remarks have drawn mixed reactions from Australian cricketers. Former batter David Warner, one of the three players sanctioned over the incident, has backed Khawaja, while current Australia captain Pat Cummins, who was among the bowlers in the infamous Test, has strongly criticised him.
Now Akram shared his opinions on the scandal, questioning how Cummins, who was a key part of the bowling group, did not know that the ball had been tampered with.
He stated that teams manage the ball to get shine on one side and rough on the other for generating reverse swing, a "sandpaper scratch is totally different than the one bounce scratch" that happens when the ball is bounced on the ground. He added that as a bowler, "I'll know straight away something is not right."
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"I saw Pat Cummins, who's a very close friend of mine, a great cricketer and one of the top leaders in world cricket, saying that he didn't know. So probably the team didn't know at the time what was happening, in my opinion. It's my opinion. It can be right or wrong.
"But as a bowler, when the cricket ball comes in my hand, either it's the fifth over, either it's in the 10th over, or either it's in the 50th over, the old ball, where you look after the ball, you shine the one side; if it's a dry day, dry square, you one bounce throw, you get scratch a bit. But the sandpaper scratch is totally different from the one-bounce scratch," Akram said in a video posted on social media.
Akram, known as a master of reverse swing, asked the fans to check for themselves how different the scratches look when sandpaper is rubbed over the ball. "And as a cricket lover, if you want to check, grab a semi-new cricket ball, grab a piece of sandpaper, and rub it in; you know, the scratches are totally different," he said before claiming that he is not taking sides with anybody.
"So again, as I said, I'm not taking anybody's sides. And Australians are known and famous for their straightforwardness, hardness on the field, off the field, and most importantly, honesty. And I think that's what the whole nation has been, you know, under stress a bit, obviously, eight years ago and back to it again. I hope things get sorted out."
He further raised questions about Cummins and the bowlers, who had jointly issued a statement in 2021 denying having knowledge of the ball-tampering plan. "This is my take on this issue: as a bowler, especially an experienced bowler, I'll have a look at the ball, and I'll know straight away something is not right," the former Pakistan cricketer concluded.
Cummins recently rejected Khawaja's claim that the entire Australian team knew about the ball-tampering scandal, describing it as "complete and utter nonsense". The Australian skipper maintained that he had no knowledge of the use of sandpaper during the 2018 Cape Town Test.
"But as a bowler, when the cricket ball comes in my hand, either it's the fifth over, either it's in the 10th over, or either it's in the 50th over, the old ball, where you look after the ball, you shine the one side; if it's a dry day, dry square, you one bounce throw, you get scratch a bit. But the sandpaper scratch is totally different from the one-bounce scratch," Akram said in a video posted on social media.
Akram, known as a master of reverse swing, asked the fans to check for themselves how different the scratches look when sandpaper is rubbed over the ball. "And as a cricket lover, if you want to check, grab a semi-new cricket ball, grab a piece of sandpaper, and rub it in; you know, the scratches are totally different," he said before claiming that he is not taking sides with anybody.
"So again, as I said, I'm not taking anybody's sides. And Australians are known and famous for their straightforwardness, hardness on the field, off the field, and most importantly, honesty. And I think that's what the whole nation has been, you know, under stress a bit, obviously, eight years ago and back to it again. I hope things get sorted out."
He further raised questions about Cummins and the bowlers, who had jointly issued a statement in 2021 denying having knowledge of the ball-tampering plan. "This is my take on this issue: as a bowler, especially an experienced bowler, I'll have a look at the ball, and I'll know straight away something is not right," the former Pakistan cricketer concluded.
Cummins recently rejected Khawaja's claim that the entire Australian team knew about the ball-tampering scandal, describing it as "complete and utter nonsense". The Australian skipper maintained that he had no knowledge of the use of sandpaper during the 2018 Cape Town Test.
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"When he says we all knew, if by that he means that we knew sandpaper was going out on the field, he's 100% wrong. I've said that consistently for the last eight years, I did not know that was happening," Cummins said.
He also accused Khawaja of making more serious allegations by suggesting that he and other players were involved in planning the ball-tampering incident.
"But I think Usman actually says things that are actually 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," Cummins said.
The Australia captain added that he was genuinely shocked to learn that Khawaja had admitted telling Cameron Bancroft to be careful while using sandpaper.
(IANS)
"When he says we all knew, if by that he means that we knew sandpaper was going out on the field, he's 100% wrong. I've said that consistently for the last eight years, I did not know that was happening," Cummins said.
He also accused Khawaja of making more serious allegations by suggesting that he and other players were involved in planning the ball-tampering incident.
"But I think Usman actually says things that are actually 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," Cummins said.
The Australia captain added that he was genuinely shocked to learn that Khawaja had admitted telling Cameron Bancroft to be careful while using sandpaper.
(IANS)
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