I still stick by Usman Khawaja, Pat Cummins threw him under the bus: David Warner

David Warner has come out in strong support of Usman Khawaja following the publication of Khawaja's autobiography, accusing Australia captain Pat Cummins of distancing himself from the retired opener's account of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.

Warner made his statement on the occasion of the first ODI between Australia and England.

"Pat Cummins was very well prepared this morning and, you know, I still stick by Uzi and what he's written in that book. It is the truth and I really, really support him. I actually feel for him at the moment. I actually feel that the captain today actually threw Uzi under the bus and I'm very, very disappointed about that," Warner told via Fox Cricket.

Khawaja, who retired from international cricket in January 2026, published his autobiography in 2026. In the book, he claimed that every member of the Australian touring party was aware of the plan to use sandpaper on the ball during the second Test against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in 2018. Cummins met Khawaja in October 2026 ahead of the book's publication to discuss its contents. After the book came out, Cummins questioned why Khawaja had chosen to publish material of that nature while the current Australian squad was on tour in South Africa.

What did Warner say about the consequences for Smith, Bancroft and himself?

Warner was emphatic that the punishment handed to him, Steven Smith and Cameron Bancroft has been severe and ongoing. Following the 2018 scandal, Warner received a 12-month international ban, while Bancroft was suspended from domestic cricket for nine months. Warner argued that the three of them have carried the weight of that episode every single day since.

"All three of us (Him, Steven Smith, and Cameron Bancroft) have played a big price in this and, you know, 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 and, you know, we've been served a life punishment. So when other people talk about it's been affected by it, there's nothing worse for me, Steve and Cameron, who have to walk out there every single day. And, you know, we cop abuse. Yes, we accepted it," Warner added.

Warner also spoke about the personal toll the scandal took on his family, stating that he and his wife suffered a loss during that period that made the episode even more painful for him personally.

"But at the end of the day, my wife and I as well pay the greatest price. We lost a baby during that time. And that's why it really hurts me the most until the truth is accepted," Warner further expressed.

What did Warner say about how the original investigation was handled?

Beyond the personal cost, Warner raised serious concerns about the manner in which Cricket Australia conducted its investigation into the ball-tampering incident. He suggested the process was rushed and that the questioning was framed in a way that pushed responsibility onto the three players who were ultimately sanctioned.

"It's been very difficult ecause the way that it was handled in the first place, it was hard for us to go back and actually, you know, give more evidence. It was literally, as I said, it was I feel like it was a botched investigation. It was a quick one to get it over and done with. Some of the questions were quite, you know, challenging in a way that it was being planted on us. And then we had to move on and just accept responsibility for three of us. And we ultimately did," the former Australian opener added.

Khawaja's autobiography contends that the blame for the Port Elizabeth incident should not rest solely with Smith, Warner and Bancroft, and that the wider touring party had knowledge of what was planned. Warner's public backing of that position, combined with his criticism of Cummins, has added a fresh dimension to a controversy that has followed Australian cricket since March 2018.