Khawaja Book Tour Adjusted After Ball-Tampering Questions

The Cliff News | 11 November 2026

Promotional activities for former Australia Test batter Usman Khawaja's new book, 'Sabr', have undergone significant adjustments this week. These changes come after Khawaja faced pointed questions about allegations of widespread team knowledge of ball-tampering during the 2018 tour of South Africa in a broadcast interview.

Khawaja withdrew from several scheduled radio and television appearances on Wednesday. His publisher, Penguin, confirmed that while the book tour is not cancelled, the itinerary has been modified due to recent events. The adjustments followed an interview on the ABC's '7.30 Report' with veteran journalist Sarah Ferguson.

Intense Interview Sparks Schedule Changes

During the Tuesday night broadcast, Ferguson persistently questioned Khawaja about claims made in his book, published on Tuesday. The book suggests that "all" members of the Australian team were aware of the plot to alter the ball using sandpaper. Ferguson specifically pressed Khawaja on whether players beyond the sanctioned trio of Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft had prior knowledge.

When asked if the bowling group, including prominent names like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, were "involved in conversations about ball tampering," Khawaja remained evasive. He stated his reluctance to elaborate further, explaining that his book was intended as a "safe space" to address the sensitive topic after considerable deliberation to present a balanced account.

Refusal to Name Names

Ferguson also directly inquired whether current Test captain Pat Cummins had foreknowledge that "sandpaper was being used to change the surface of the ball." Khawaja again declined to provide specific details, reiterating that he had written what he felt was appropriate in his book. He emphasized his past support for Warner, Smith, and Bancroft and maintained his stance of not naming individuals.

I'm just not going to entertain that. And I say that for one reason: I wrote [the details] in my book because it was a safe space for me to write. It took a long time to, first, write the chapter... and go over it and work out a way that it was as balanced as possible.

Khawaja stated his intention to remain out of further naming names, having already presented his account and maintained a clear distinction between "us" and "them" in his writing without explicitly identifying individuals. He clarified that his current position is not a "witch hunt."

Publisher Confirms Adjustments, Not Cancellation

A statement from Penguin to the ABC confirmed the situation. "The book tour is 100% still going ahead, we've just had to make some adjustments this week, but no major cancellation of the tour at all," the statement read. The publisher's remarks suggest that the core promotional activities remain, but the immediate schedule has been modified.