Clarke calls for new sandpaper inquiry as Cricket Australia stands by investigation

Michael Clarke has called for a fresh investigation into Australia's 2018 ball-tampering scandal after Usman Khawaja alleged the whole team knew about the use of sandpaper. BBC Sport reported that the former Australia captain wants the conflicting accounts examined again, while Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has rejected reopening the inquiry.

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Speaking on 2DayFM, Clarke argued that supporters still lacked a reliable account of what happened during the South Africa tour. He also called on current Test captain Pat Cummins to address Khawaja's allegations. Clarke pointed to the original investigation and comments made by Cameron Bancroft in 2021 as earlier opportunities to establish the facts, according to the BBC report.

Khawaja's claims appear in his autobiography, Sabr, released on Tuesday. ABC News reported that he alleges sandpaper was used in the Test before the Cape Town match, where Bancroft was caught on camera altering the ball. The original Cricket Australia investigation found that only Bancroft, captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner knew of the scheme. All three received suspensions; the other players were cleared.

Greenberg told SEN that details in Khawaja's account conflicted with evidence from others, ABC reported. He said players had been encouraged to provide information at the time and could still come forward. Cricket Australia remained satisfied with its findings, including after considering what it had seen of Khawaja's account. Greenberg said he saw no compelling reason to repeat the investigation or revisit its outcome.

Mitchell Starc separately rejected the suggestion that he knew sandpaper had been taken onto the field. According to ABC's report from the Fox Cricket season launch, he maintained the position set out by the bowlers in their 2021 statement: they learned of its use from images on the stadium screen. Starc also said he had not known of alleged use in the preceding Test.

Warner has backed Khawaja's recollections and criticised the investigation, BBC Sport reported. Those statements remain disputed accounts rather than new findings. Clarke's demand for another inquiry therefore comes with Cricket Australia maintaining its existing conclusions and Starc continuing to deny prior knowledge of the Cape Town plan.