'Utter nonsense': Cummins rejects Khawaja's claims over 2018 ball-tampering scandal

Australia captain Pat Cummins has rejected allegations that he was aware of a plan to use sandpaper on the ball during the 2018 Test against South Africa, describing claims made in Usman Khawaja’s autobiography as “utter nonsense”.

Khawaja, a former Australian batter, published his autobiography this week and said last weekend that all members of the team knew about the plan during the Cape Town Test at Newlands. His remarks prompted calls for a fresh investigation into the ball-tampering scandal.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Cummins denied knowing that sandpaper was being taken onto the field.

“When he says we all knew, if by that he means that we knew sandpaper was going out in the field, he’s 100% wrong. I’ve said that consistently for the last eight years,” Cummins said.

“I did not know that was happening, but I think Usman actually says things that are actually far more serious than that,” he added.