Former coach Hick calls Khawaja's claim 'completely false' as Warner questions Hick's appointment

Former Australia batting coach Graeme Hick has dismissed former opener Usman Khawaja's claim about the eight-year-old 'Sandpapergate' scandal as 'completely false'. David Warner has since questioned Hick's appointment as coach.

In his autobiography 'Sabr', Khawaja claimed the whole touring party knew about the plan to use sandpaper during the 2018 Cape Town Test against South Africa. Khawaja also claimed sandpaper had been used in the Test before Cape Town.

Hick is the second member of Australia's coaching staff to dispute Khawaja's account. He told Australian outlet The Sydney Morning Herald that he had seen various statements about the coaches and that the overall tone of those statements had disappointed him greatly.

Hick said: 'Khawaja put it very simply — "We were all involved. Not just the batters, not just the bowlers, not just the staff. All of us." To me, that suggestion from Khawaja is completely false.'

Saying he had no prior knowledge of the sandpaper use, Hick said: 'I can honestly say I heard or knew nothing about any discussion of ball tampering in Port Elizabeth or Cape Town. I first learned of it when the incident was shown on the big screen in Cape Town. I was sitting on the outside balcony at the time.'

In his book, Khawaja also claimed a member of the coaching staff encouraged Cameron Bancroft to use sandpaper during a break in the Cape Town Test, without naming the coach. Both Australia's then head coach Darren Lehmann and Hick have denied any involvement in such an incident.

After Hick's comments, David Warner — Khawaja's long-time opening partner and friend — questioned the coach's appointment. Replying on X to a Wide World of Sports post, Warner wrote: 'Let us get the facts clear. Graeme Hick was appointed only because Cricket Australia was not willing to pay Michael Di Venuto the salary he deserved.'

Warner also wrote that the players valued Michael Di Venuto so highly as a player that they had even offered to pay from their own salaries to keep him. Those discussions took place during the 2017 tour of New Zealand. He said this showed how much they respected Di Venuto and how keen they were to keep him with the team, and that it was also one reason why Graeme Hick was speaking out.

When Hick was asked for his reaction to Warner's remarks, he did not wish to comment.