Disappointed with Pat Cummins, he threw Usman Khawaja under the bus: David Warner

Former Australia opener David Warner has reiterated his support for Usman Khawaja after Pat Cummins publicly denied his allegations about Sandpapergate. Khawaja has made some shocking revelations about Sandpapergate from the 2018 Cape Town Test against South Africa in his autobiography Sabr.

However, Cummins has called his claims complete nonsense and 100% wrong in a press conference. Warner, who has been quite vocal about his support for Khawaja, has backed him again, saying that Cummins threw him under the bus.

“I still stick by Uzzy and what he's written in that book, because it is the truth, and I really, really support him. I actually feel for him at the moment. I actually feel that today, the captain threw Uzzy under the bus, and I'm very, very disappointed about that,” Warner told Fox Sports on the sidelines of the first ODI between Australia and England in Perth.

Warner, who served a one-year ban along with Steve Smith after Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper on the ball in the Cape Town Test, said that he continues to be affected by the incident even today. Even Bancroft was banned for nine months following his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal.

“All three of us have paid a big price in this thing. I hadn't spoken about it in eight years, but at the end of the day, we've got to live with these consequences daily. We've been served a life punishment. When other people talk about [how] they've been affected by it, there's nothing worse for me, Steve and Cam, who have to walk out there every day and we cop abuse,” he added.

The former Australia opener also revealed that he suffered a personal tragedy while dealing with the issue. Hence, it hurts him even more.

“Yes, we accepted it, but at the end of the day, my wife and I paid the greatest price. We lost a baby during that time. That's why it really hurts me the most until the truth is accepted,” said Warner.

Cricket Australia to not reopen investigation into Sandpapergate

Only Warner has supported Khawaja’s allegations that the entire team was involved in ball tampering during the infamous Test match. Apart from him, Mitchell Starc, Cummins and Mitchell Marsh continue to deny the entire team’s involvement.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) has decided not to reopen the investigation into the incident, saying that they’re satisfied with the way it was conducted.