'Threw Khawaja under the bus': David Warner slams Pat Cummins
What's the story
Former Australian opener David Warner has yet again come out in support of Usman Khawaja, after Pat Cummins dismissed the latter's claims about the entire team knowing about sandpaper use during the 2018 Cape Town Test. Warner criticized Cummins's defense on Friday, saying that he had thrown Khawaja "under the bus." "I actually feel for him at the moment," Warner told Fox Sports on the sidelines of the first ODI between Australia and England in Perth.
Saga
Khawaja's claim and Cummins response
In his autobiography, "Sabr," Khawaja claimed that the entire Australian cricket team was involved in the infamous ball-tampering scandal in the 2018 Cape Town Test against South Africa.
"It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us," Khawaja had told Nine.
On Friday, Cummins called Khawaja's allegations "100% wrong" and "complete and utter nonsense."
He said, "In his book, Ussie has been casual with my life and the lives of many others."
Support
'I still stick by Uzzy'
Warner, who was one of the three players banned after Cameron Bancroft was seen using sandpaper on the ball in Newlands Test, reiterated his support for Khawaja.
"I still stick by Uzzy and what he's written in that book, because it is the truth," he said.
"I actually feel for him at the moment. I actually feel that today, the captain (Cummins) threw Uzzy under the bus, and I'm very, very disappointed about that."
Warner also reminded that he, Steve Smith, and Bancroft had to pay a huge price for their involvement in this incident.
Impact
We've been served a life punishment: Warner
Warner emphasized that he, Smith, and Bancroft have been living with the consequences of this incident every day.
"We've been served a life punishment," he said.
The former Australian opener also revealed that his family paid the greatest price for this scandal, revealing they lost a baby during that time.
"That's why it really hurts me the most until the truth is accepted," Warner added.
Critique
Warner calls investigation 'botched'
Warner also slammed the investigation into this scandal, calling it "botched." He reiterated his support for Khawaja's claims in his autobiography, Sabr.
Notably, Khawaja has claimed that all members of the Test team were aware of the sandpaper use during Cape Town Test against South Africa.
This contradicts Cummins's public statements as the current Australia captain has repeatedly denied knowing about the sandpaper plot.