Usman Khawaja cancels all media for his book after dramatic ABC interview

Former Cricketer Usman Khawaja has cancelled all media interviews over his new book Sabr after a “grilling” on ABC’s 7.30.

The Australian reports, “This masthead can reveal that publishers Penguin have advised several media outlets this morning that Khawaja will be doing no further television and radio interviews about the book.”

The Australian understands the reason is that Khawaja is “concerned that every time he gets interviewed he will be grilled about his controversial claims that all Australian members of the 2018 touring team to South Africa were aware of Australia’s of sandpaper on the ball.”

 

 

 

 

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In last night's 7:30 report, Kawaja was interviewed by host Sarah Ferguson.

Ferguson was asked on a number of occasions to confirm if he had prior knowledge that sandpaper was being used to tamper with the ball in South Africa in 2018.

“I’m just not going to entertain that,” Khawaja definitively said.

“And I say that for one reason – I wrote (the details) in my book because it was a safe space for me to write.

“It took a long time to, first, write the chapter … and go over it and work out a way that it was as balanced as possible.”

He added, “I’ve come out and stood by those guys (the suspended players David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft) and told my account of what I saw.

“I’ve been very clear … there are instances when I talk about ‘us’ and ‘them’, but I’ve been very clear in not naming names and staying out of it. I’m not going to start now.

“This has never been a witch hunt for me.

“You’ve got to remember (that) Pat Cummins is a good friend of mine. Mitchell Starc, a lot of these guys (are and) other players in the team (are too).

“I’m not here to go on a witch hunt. All I’ve ever wanted is for us to take accountability as a team.”