Pat Cummins (AFP Photo)
Cricket Australia chairman David Boon has thrown his support behind Test captain Pat Cummins following fresh allegations about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. Boon has made it clear that Cummins’ position as captain is safe and that the board continues to have full faith in him.
Khawaja alleged that all members of the Australian team on the 2018 South Africa tour knew about the plan to tamper with the ball. Marsh was part of the Test team during the 2018 tour and will speak at a press conference in Perth later on Thursday, ahead of the ODI against England. Former Australia fast bowler Chadd Sayers, who was also part of the 2018 South Africa tour, has also backed Khawaja.
The controversy has returned to the spotlight after former Australia batter Usman Khawaja made fresh claims in his autobiography, “Sabr”. Boon said Cummins had led the team with honesty and had the board’s complete backing. “We absolutely support Pat,” Boon said in comments published by The Australian on Thursday. Speaking to Australian media last weekend, Sayers said the allegations were “accurate”.
His claims have reopened the debate over the scandal and led to demands for another investigation. Cummins, who now leads Australia’s Test team, has also come under pressure to explain what he knew. “He’s been an exemplary captain, he’s led the team with integrity and, you know, very successfully over the period of time that he’s been captain, so there’s no question of our confidence in him continuing on in that fact. Mitchell Marsh , Australia’s white-ball captain, is also expected to address the issue.