Pat Cummins, Australia Test and ODI captain, has hit back at former teammate Usman Khawaja’s allegation about the 2018 Sandpapergate ball-tampering scandal. He has called Khawaja’s allegations "100% wrong" and "utter nonsense."

Cummins faced several questions about Khawaja's autobiography during a fiery press conference in Sydney. He was questioned on whether Cricket Australia should renew the inquiry into the sandpaper issue, whether he had spoken to Khawaja, and whether he would file a lawsuit against his former teammate.

In addition to addressing each concern, the Australian skipper explained why he thought Khawaja's assertions were careless. When asked whether he would sue his former teammate, Cummins acknowledged speaking with Khawaja throughout the week, but did not elaborate on their exchange.

He said that the accusations had caused him to consider the potential impact on his long-standing friendship with Khawaja. Additionally, Cummins disclosed that several of the allegations in the book were "probably defamatory" according to advice. However, he made it clear that he would not take legal action.

"You've got to move on. It's been eight years … You've got to draw the line at some point. I won't be doing that,” Cummins said during the presser, as quoted by SEN Cricket.

Cummins stated that he would not engage in any discussions with Khawaja and that, in his opinion, the controversy had been "sitting heavy" on Khawaja for some time.

"Personal conversations, I do not really want to go into it (what he has said to Usman). There is quite a bit to sift through there. I do not want to break confidence. I wanted to sift through what has been said. It looks like it has been sitting heavy on him for a while. It sounds like he knew a lot more than others in the changeroom. We told them everything in that investigation; we were an open book.  Maybe he never got over it," he added. 

He thought the allegations were serious because they impacted the players, their families, and their reputations.

"I've played 15 years, my debut for New South Wales and with Australia. Usman was right there, and he's been awesome to me, and he's a friend. But these are people's real lives, and this is serious. I saw [my wife] Becky on the news yesterday. Like, this affects not only people but also people's families, and I'm one of the lesser ones.

Maybe this week I'm right there. But talking about eight years ago, like it was traumatic for those guys, for all of us, for Australian cricket, and for fans. So, to bring it up so flippantly and casually, I think it's irresponsible. So, they're all things I'm grappling with at the moment," he said.

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg had said earlier in the week that the governing body would not reopen the investigation into the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.

(ANI inputs)