Khawaja cancels book interviews after refusing to answer key question about Cummins

November 11, 2026 — 7:41am

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Usman Khawaja has pulled out of television and radio interviews to promote his controversial book after being grilled by Sarah Ferguson on the ABC’s 7.30 program, during which he failed to answer key questions about Sandpapergate.

Following the bruising TV interview on Tuesday night, Khawaja has informed his publisher, Penguin, that he will no longer participate in television or radio appearances as part of the publicity campaign for his book, Sabr.

While Khawaja is still expected to appear on podcasts, it would appear he is reluctant to face further questioning about who knew what during Australia’s infamous 2018 Test tour of South Africa.

Penguin, publishers of Khawaja’s book, told media outlets that the cricketer’s team wanted to cancel interviews because of his busy schedule. But after his appearance on 7.30, Khawaja was pulled from radio and television slots.

As a former Test batsman, Khawaja faced some of the world’s most fearsome fast bowlers during his cricketing career for Australia.

But putting the pads on to face Ferguson proved a different challenge altogether.

On the day his controversial book was released, Khawaja spent much of his interview ducking, weaving and leaving questions unanswered about who knew what during that tour eight years ago.

His body language suggested a man weighed down by the fallout. Relationships with former teammates have been strained, perhaps irreparably, after Khawaja tipped a bucket on numerous figures in Australian cricket, including ex-teammates.

For a man on a publicity blitz, Khawaja appeared remarkably reluctant to discuss some of his book’s most explosive claims.

Khawaja and Warner have rekindled the sandpaper scandal. What will Steve Smith say?

Central to the controversy is his claim that more players knew about ball tampering tactics being used to illegally alter the condition of the ball, not only during the third Test in Cape Town, where the scandal erupted, but in the preceding match in Port Elizabeth.

Khawaja insists he has not pointed the finger at anyone in particular. Yet by calling on the team to accept collective responsibility, while refusing to identify individuals, he has effectively implicated everyone.

Ferguson took the new ball with aplomb.

“Dave Warner has........

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