Cummins maintained he had no knowledge that sandpaper was taken onto the field.
Pakistan pace legend Wasim Akram has cast doubt on Pat Cummins' claim that he was unaware sandpaper was used on the ball during Australia's 2018 tour of South Africa.
Speaking in a social media video from Melbourne on Saturday (November 14), Akram stated that any experienced bowler closely inspects the ball every over and can immediately distinguish between natural scuffing and artificial damage.
Akram explained that bowlers continuously maintain and shine the ball throughout an innings, noting that a "sandpaper scratch is totally different than the one-bounce scratch" caused by legal roughing on dry surfaces.
“I saw Pat Cummins, who’s a very close friend of mine, a great cricketer, one of the top leaders in world cricket, the way he leads his team from the front, and he said he didn’t know,” Wasim quoted as saying in the clip.
“It’s my opinion, and it can be right or wrong, but as a bowler, when the cricket ball comes in my hand, either it’s the fifth over, either it’s in the 10th over, either it’s in the 50th over – the old ball – where you look after the ball, you shine the one side if it’s a dry day, a dry square, you one-bounce throw, you get it scratched a bit, but the sandpaper scratch is totally different than the one-bounce scratch," he added.
The former Pakistan skipper further stated that anyone could verify this difference by rubbing sandpaper against a semi-new ball to compare the marks.
Despite questioning the Australian captain's version of events, Akram clarified that he was sharing his technical perspective as a bowler rather than taking sides.
“As a cricket lover, if you want to check, grab a semi-new cricket ball, grab sandpaper, and rub it in; you know the scratches are totally different. Again, as I said, I’m not taking anybody’s side," he remarked.
The 2018 "Sandpapergate" scandal returned to the spotlight following the release of former opener Usman Khawaja’s autobiography, Sabr, which alleges that knowledge of the tampering plan was widespread across the Australian squad, including the bowling group.
During a lengthy press conference in Sydney on Friday (November 13), Cummins rejected Khawaja's claims as "100 per cent wrong" and "complete and utter nonsense," maintaining he had no knowledge that sandpaper was taken onto the field.
In the original incident during the 2018 Cape Town Test, Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera using sandpaper on the ball. As a result, Bancroft was handed a nine-month suspension by Cricket Australia while then-captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were banned for 12 months.
Wasim Akram emphasized that the situation has been stressful for Australia because the nation prides itself on honesty and straightforwardness. He hoped the matter will be sorted out soon.
“Australians are known and famous for their straightforwardness, hardness on the field, off the field, and, most importantly, honesty. The whole nation has been under stress. Eight years ago and back to it again. I hope things get sorted out. This is my take as a bowler. As an experienced bowler, when I look at the ball, I will know straightaway something is not right,” Akram concluded.