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Lehmann disputes Khawaja's claims on Australian ball-tampering scandal

Former Australian cricket coach Darren Lehmann has rejected suggestions that the entire dressing room knew about the 2018 ball-tampering incident in Cape Town. The denial comes after Usman Khawaja recently made claims about the scope of knowledge within the team regarding the scandal.

LSN India · 7 November 2026

Lehmann has publicly challenged Khawaja's assertion that all players in the Australian dressing room were aware of the plan to alter the ball during the Test match against South Africa in March 2018. The former coach's comments represent a fresh point of contention in the ongoing debate surrounding the incident that became one of cricket's biggest controversies.

The ball-tampering scandal resulted in significant consequences for Australian cricket, including bans for key players and damage to the nation's sporting reputation. The incident has continued to generate discussion among former and current cricket personalities, with varying accounts of who knew what and when.

Khawaja's recent remarks about the dressing room's collective knowledge have reignited scrutiny around the affair. Lehmann's counter-assertion suggests a substantial gap in recollection or interpretation of events among those directly involved in the Australian cricket establishment at the time.

The exchange highlights how the 2018 scandal continues to divide opinion within Australian cricket circles, with key figures offering differing narratives about the incident's scope and the number of people who may have been complicit or aware of the actions taken.