'100% accurate' - Warner throws his support behind Khawaja on sandpapergate revelations

Three days after the first story about the book - Sabr, to be published on Tuesday - came out, Warner took to Instagram from Nepal, where he is playing in the Nepal Premier League, to say that everything Khawaja has written is "100% accurate".

Khawaja has said that Australia used sandpaper on the ball in the Test before Cape Town in Gqeberha (then Port Elizabeth), implicated that there was awareness of the plans beyond those punished, that he repeatedly called on the team to take collective responsibility and he was never interviewed during the investigation despite knowing what had taken place.

"It's been eight years since I've spoken on this topic and Uzzy, I throw my full support behind you," Warner said. "I thank you for what you've done. It's 100% accurate what you've said.

"Now everyone knows the truth, it's out there. People wanted to know it, you've come out and said it, and now people are saying why eight years on, talking about selling a book. This is Usman's story, this is what Usman believes. Uzzy wrote down every single thing from that day on. Uzzy, thank you.

"Now, this whole interview process was rushed and botched. Uzzy was sitting next to Cameron Bancroft. Uzzy was not interviewed. How is that a thorough investigation? It baffles me.

"We're not here to point fingers and we're not opening our wounds. It's about accountability, transparency, ensuring that the truth is properly examined and perhaps it's time people stop scrutinising the person, asking for accountability and start asking those responsible for the investigation to provide it.

"Now, there was a lot of statements and inaccuracies over the last eight years that were out in the media by people and there was a lot of people who stayed silent."

Warner added that it had taken him a few days to respond as he wanted to explain the situation to his children and about the images that emerged in 2018. "That was a hard thing to do but one thing I did say is, girls, tell the truth. Because lies will eventually get out."

At the weekend, CA issued a statement standing by their 2018 investigation.

"There has been a great deal of speculation in the eight years since the 2018 Cape Town Test, including extensive media coverage throughout last month's series in South Africa," the statement said. "During this time there has been the ongoing opportunity to present any relevant information, and this remains the case. All relevant information presented to CA to date has been properly considered and we remain comfortable with the findings of our integrity process."

None of the executives involved at CA at the time remains in position. Khawaja does write about a conversation with Todd Greenberg, who is now the CEO at CA, when he was in the same position at the Australia Cricketers' Association in 2021 at the time the bowlers issued their statement in response to Bancroft's newspaper interview where he said it was "self explanatory" they would have known what was happening, reiterating his call for the team to take collective responsibility.

However, multiple players are still active. Mitchell Starc is due to attend a commercial event on Tuesday where he is scheduled to speak to the media. Mitchell Marsh, who was also in the side in 2018, will speak on Thursday as ODI captain ahead of the series against England.