Sandpapergate: David Warner not backing down from cover-up claims despite Cricket Australia’s response
Former Australian opener David Warner is not backing down over his claims that Cricket Australia’s Sandpapergate investigation was a cover-up, despite being forced to backtrack on his strongest argument.
Former Australian opener David Warner is not backing down over his claims that Cricket Australia’s Sandpapergate investigation was a cover-up, despite being forced to backtrack on his strongest argument.
Warner ratcheted the heat up in the pressure cooker currently around Australian Cricket by taking to Instagram on Saturday, saying CA did not interview the bowlers in 2018 as part of the probe.
“As far as I am aware, CA did not interview Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc or Nathan Lyon in their 2018 investigation,” Warner posted to Instagram.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“It looks like they had decided who they wanted to blame from the very beginning, and now they want to maintain the false narrative that the bowlers had no idea. That stinks of a cover-up.”
However, sources close to the investigation responded to those comments, saying that all three had been spoken to and had given statements to CA.
That response prompted Warner to take to Instagram once again, where he alluded to how the lack of information provided to him during the investigation limited his options to challenge his 12-month ban.
“Just to clarify, as far as I am aware, was the POINT. I was never told the bowlers had been interviewed or provided statements,” he posted on Sunday.
“That information would’ve been pretty useful when I was forced to make decisions back in 2018. Why weren’t we given all the evidence by CA?”
The firebrand opener has backed Usman Khawaja’s explosive claims that the entire team knew of the sandpaper plot to a hilt since his autobiography Sabr was released earlier this week.
He also accused Pat Cummins of throwing Khawaja under the bus during his commentary before Australia’s first ODI on Friday, after the Australian captain held a marathon press conference calling the opener’s allegations ‘nonsense’.
Warner was not part of Fox’s commentary team for Sunday’s clash, but Fox Sports confirmed he would return for Wednesday’s match.
“Dave went home from Perth to Sydney for a family commitment last night,” managing director Steve Crawley said.
“He will be back on Fox Cricket Wednesday in Hobart for the third ODI.”
