Last Updated on 20 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey
Cricket Australia (CA) CEO Todd Greenberg says there will be no new investigation into sandpapergate. The ball tampering saga is back in the headlines after Usman Khawaja’s comments over the weekend claiming everyone knew about the plan, which have since been supported by David Warner.
CA had responded to Khawaja’s claims stating they were content with the investigation and its findings. Greenberg, who wasn’t involved in cricket in 2018, says he has read the transcript and believes there is no benefit going back nearly nine years.
No benefit in going back and re-opening the investigation: CA CEO Todd Greenberg
In his book Sabr, Khawaja reveals Australia also used sandpaper on the ball in the previous Test at Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) before getting caught at Newlands. The recently retired batter also claimed that he was never interviewed by CA as part of its investigation despite sitting next to Bancroft in the dressing room. David Warner, who was banned for 12 months, says everything Khawaja said is “100 per cent accurate.”
“Now, this whole interview process was rushed and botched. Uzzi was sitting next to Cameron Bancroft. Uzzi was not interviewed. How is that a thorough investigation? It baffles me,” Warner said.
However, Greenberg says he’s comfortable with the findings. The CEO doesn’t believe there is a compelling enough reason to re-open the case.
“There’s absolutely no benefit in going back,” Greenberg told SEN radio, as quoted by Cricinfo.
“That’s the clear position of the CA board. I think it’s time we’ve got to look ahead, and the matter was dealt with under a previous leadership back in 2018. And you know, trying to second guess decisions from a previous time, or making an assessment through the prism of hindsight, it’s not something we want to do.
“We have said we’re comfortable with the outcome of the investigation based on the information we’ve received, that includes what we’ve seen from Usman and our position hasn’t changed on that.
“I don’t see any compelling reason to open the investigation or revisit this again. I don’t think there’s anything that can be gained from that.”
Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc to talk publicly this week
Greenberg also confirmed current captain Pat Cummins will address the media this week. Cummins, along with Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, released a joint statement in 2021 stating they did not have prior knowledge of the ball tampering plot. This was following a comment from Cameron Bancroft who said it was “pretty self-explanatory” as to whether the bowlers knew.
“There’s no doubt that you’ll hear from Pat and you’ll hear from other players over the coming days or weeks,” Greenberg said.
“And as I said, I know people are calling for the truth, but in reference to the bowlers, I think one thing that is clear is they’ve been very consistent from the original investigation back in 2018, in the days that immediately followed this Test match.
“Again, in their public statements in 2021, and again in many of my conversations with them over the weekend, their position has remained consistent and hasn’t changed, and there’ll obviously be time for them.
“Pat will speak at some point in the days or weeks ahead, but I expect that their position will be exactly the same as it has been since the start of this in 2018.”
