Usman Khawaja has insisted he has not 'thrown anyone under the bus' after excerpts from his autobiography claimed the entire Australia team were aware of the ball-tampering scheme during the 2018 South Africa tour. The retired batter said he made a 'promise' to David Warner to tell the truth, describing Smith, Warner and Bancroft as the victims who took the blame for the team. Khawaja claimed Steve Smith talked him out of coming clean in 2018, and again in 2021 after Bancroft suggested the bowling attack knew about the plot.
He said he was not comfortable going to war with team-mates who didn't want to discuss it, but now speaks for himself. The bowling attack — Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood — released a statement in 2021 denying any knowledge. Cricket Australia maintains only Smith, Warner and Bancroft knew.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing