'I'm very disappointed': Former Australia coach, part of Sandpapergate tour, rejects Usman Khawaja's claims as 'absolutely false'

'I'm very disappointed': Former Australia coach, part of Sandpapergate tour, rejects Usman Khawaja's claims as 'absolutely false' originally appeared on Cricket News . Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . KEY TAKEAWAYS: Graeme Hick has called Usman Khawaja's claim that the whole squad knew about the sandpaper plot "absolutely false". Australia's former batting coach says he first learned of it from the big screen in Cape Town. Khawaja has alleged a coaching staff member encouraged Cameron Bancroft to use sandpaper. Graeme Hick rejects Usman Khawaja's Sandpapergate claims Usman Khawaja's allegation that every member of Australia's 2018 touring party knew about the ball-tampering plan has now been contradicted by the man who was the side's batting coach at the time. Graeme Hick has dismissed it outright. Hick, who held the role from 2016 to 2020, took issue not only with the substance of the claim but with the fact that it was made about everyone at once. "I have seen the various statements around the coaches, and I'm very disappointed with the broad nature of them," he told the Sydney Morning Herald . He then addressed Khawaja's central line directly. "Khawaja puts it simply: "It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us. To me, what Khawaja is implying here is absolutely false," Hick explained. "In regard to any discussions around the ball tampering in Port Elizabeth or Cape Town that took place, I will say in true honesty that I did not hear or know anything." His account of when he found out matches the version Cricket Australia's investigation settled on in 2018. "My first knowledge of all this was, like many, when it appeared on the big screen in Cape Town, as I was sat on the outside balcony at the time," Hick said in his statement. MORE: 'Couldn't agree more': Warner and Broad's father call out Lehmann's hypocrisy Why Darren Lehman's coaching staff's denials matter to Khawaja's account Hick's denial is more damaging to Khawaja than the bowlers' objections, due to a specific allegation. The former Australian opener had claimed that a member of the coaching staff encouraged Bancroft to use sandpaper during the interval of the infamous Cape Town Test. This allegation puts the coaching box, rather than the dressing room, at the center of the issue. Darren Lehmann, the head coach who resigned months after the scandal, has also denied knowledge and questioned whether the whole squad knew. That leaves two of the senior coaching figures from that tour on record against Khawaja, alongside the 2021 joint statement from Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon. Khawaja's own position weakened on Tuesday. He pulled out of television and radio interviews promoting his memoir, Sabr, after an appearance on ABC's 7.30, where he declined to answer several questions from Sarah Ferguson about the affair, saying at one point that he was not going to entertain them. MORE: Usman Khawaja reveals why he waited until retirement to expose Sandpapergate Who else has denied Khawaja's Sandpapergate claims, and who has backed them? Hick is not the only one from that tour to have spoken out against Khawaja. Darren Lehmann, who was Australia's head coach during that tour and resigned a few months after Cape Town, also denied having any knowledge about the plan. He questioned the claim that the whole squad knew about the ball tampering and, when contacted again this week, declined to comment. The playing group had already put its position on record. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon issued a joint statement in 2021 denying any knowledge of the ball-tampering and calling for an end to the rumour-mongering, which Khawaja's book effectively calls untrue. Cummins, who now leads the Test side, is also expected to address the whole thing publicly. But CA is yet to confirm when that might happen. Against all of that, Khawaja has two allies from inside the touring party. MORE: 'Everything he says is accurate': Chadd Sayers, AUS bowler part of SA tour, backs up Khawaja's claims Chad Sayers has independently confirmed his account. Meanwhile, David Warner, one of the three players banned in 2018, went after Lehmann, agreeing with former ICC match referee Chris Broad that Lehmann should have been the coach if he genuinely did not know. For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary, and to share your voice, head to our Facebook , Instagram , and X (Twitter) pages.