Usman Khawaja has been brutally roasted for using two words during a probing interview about his explosive Sandpaper-gate claims.
Khawaja copped a grilling on the ABC’s 7.30 program over his controversial book, Sabr, and has since been criticised for using expressions such as “my truth” and “I’ve tried my best to tell my version of events”.
The use of “my truth” certainly didn’t sit well with many, and in some ways was perceived as a softening of his position.
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“Note to media managers. Anyone who refers to ‘my truth’ turns off half the viewers immediately. Just say ‘the truth,’” one observer wrote on X.
And another: “Did he not think of the repercussions? Also, I always have reservations about people who say ‘my truth’. There is no such thing as my truth. It’s either the truth or a lie. The term ‘my truth’ is often used to cover a lie. I’m not saying it’s a lie, but …”
The interview has since been described as a “trainwreck” by one media outlet and, in the fallout, Khawaja has made abrupt changes to his promotional book tour.
He has reportedly cancelled all his TV and radio interviews, however, he is expected to appear in book stores and on podcasts.
Publisher Penguin has confirmed there have been some “adjustments” but the book tour is “100 per cent still going ahead”.
“We’ve just had to make some adjustments this week … but no major cancellation of the tour at all,” the publisher said.
The 7.30 interview started with a bang, when host Sarah Ferguson quizzed Khawaja on David Warner’s claims that “lies will eventually get out”.
“What lies is he talking about?” Ferguson asked.
Seemingly caught off guard, Khawaja said he was not going to “speak on behalf of Davie”.
“I’ve tried my best to tell my story in an open and safe environment,” Khawaja said.
“22 pages is what sandpaper is, and I’ve tried my best in that to explain my version of events. There’s no easy way to do it, but, I mean, I’m not here to inflame the situation anymore. I was here to tell my truth, what I saw, what I felt, and to stick with those three guys that were made out to be the only people who have taken it, and I wanted that to be shown.”
Using the expression “open and safe environment” also incensed many observers.
“WTF is an ‘open and safe environment’ and what is ‘my truth”?! What an absolute wanker,” one punter said on social media.
And another: “As soon as someone says I’m telling MY truth you know they are lying.”
And another: “Fantastic interview by Sarah. Didn’t pull any punches. I’m really struggling to understand why Uz agreed to this. It hasn’t enhanced his position at all. Made him look like he’s weaseling out of the initial strong stance he took.”
Ferguson also grilled Khawaja on the stance of the Australian bowlers in the Test, who have claimed they had no advanced knowledge of the sandpaper use in Cape Town.
“To your knowledge, is that untrue that (the bowlers) did not know?” Ferguson asked.
Khawaja looked uncomfortable when responding.
“I’ll say it again, I’ve given my statement about what happened the game before, and what was called back then Port Elizabeth, and where we played there, and what happened, and I was very open and honest to what I saw and what conversations I had,” he said.
“You know, it’s never been for me about pointing fingers and saying he did this, he said that, and that’s why …. when I first wrote my edit, there was names, there was lots of things, I pulled it back.
“Sometimes I’m very specific on things, and sometimes I’m a bit vague on things. I do it on purpose because I’m trying to tell a story. But my main objective here is always to try to take accountability as a team to say, ’Yes, this was happening,’ and even though that one person did it, or the captain knew about it, and David Warner took the heat too for it, that it wasn’t just them.”
Khawaja was again pressed on the stance of Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.
“Were those players that I mentioned involved in conversations about ball tampering?” Ferguson again asked.
“I’m not gonna entertain that (question),” he said.
“And I say this for one reason. I I wrote it in my book because it was a space, a safe space for me to write. It took a long time. It took me a long time to first write the chapter, then go over it and try to work out a way that was as balanced as possible.
“I did it the best way I could. At the same time, trying to be open and honest about what I saw and how things were … I implore people, it’s hard for me to talk about this with you to get the right context, there’s so much happening at that time, and I felt like I found a nice balance with it at the end of it.
“I’m not here to go on a witch hunt. All I’ve ever wanted is for us to take accountability as a team.
“And I learned from this week when the media article came out, that whenever things come out in the media, they get sensationalised …They’re all everywhere, and the clickbait it just runs rapid.
“I’ve talked on social media about this, and I’ve written in my book. That’s my statement. That’s what it is, and I’m not going to really speak on any more of it at this moment.
“You’ve got to remember (that) Pat Cummins is a good friend of mine. Mitchell Starc, a lot of these guys (are and) other players in the team (are too).”
On Tuesday, Starc again denied any knowledge of the sandpaper plot when he became the first player from the match to front the media, citing a statement he and his fellow bowlers made in 2021.
“As far as the book is concerned, I haven’t read it. I probably won’t read it. So that’s for Usman to elaborate on,” Starc said.
Australian Cricketers’ Association chief executive Paul Marsh said it was clear “there are no winners in this issue”.
Channel 7’s Simon Katich believes it will “weigh heavily” on the Test team ahead of a nine-month run in which Australia host New Zealand then tour India and England.
“Given how contentious it’s been for the last eight years,” he said.
Marsh suggested on Tuesday it was understandable that each player’s version of events could be different.
“Eight years on, it is understandable that those involved may have different recollections and perspectives of what took place,” he said in a statement.
“Players and staff at the heart of the issue are entitled to share their experiences, just as others are entitled to put such a challenging period in their life behind them.
“There are no winners in this issue, and nothing can undo what happened.”
– With AAP
