Former batter Khawaja has said he was shocked not to be asked to provide evidence during Cricket Australia’s investigation.
“In an ideal world, I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to be the one who comes out and talks about the truth,” he wrote.
“The issue is that I genuinely thought after eight years the truth would have been out by now.”
In response, Warner said: “This is Usman’s story. This is what Usman believes. Ussie wrote down every single thing from that day on.
“This whole interview process was rushed and botched. Ussie was sitting next to Cameron Bancroft. Ussie was not interviewed.
“How is that a thorough investigation? It baffles me. We’re not here to point fingers and we’re not opening old wounds. It’s about accountability, transparency, ensuring that the truth is properly examined.
“Perhaps it’s time people stop scrutinising the person asking for accountability and start asking those responsible for the investigation to provide it.”
While Smith, Warner and Bancroft – all batters – were punished, there was never an explanation of how bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon did not notice a change in the state of the ball.
Cummins has been Test captain since 2021 and all four players remain fixtures in the Australia red-ball side.
The quartet released a joint statement in 2021 which said they “did not know a foreign substance was taken on to the field”.
Warner said in his video that there were “a lot of statements and inaccuracies over the last eight years that were out in the media by people. And there was a lot of people who stayed silent.”
The 40-year-old, who scored 8,786 runs in 112 Tests, said he delayed his reponse to Khawaja’s comments so he could explain the incident to his daughters.
“I had to tell them exactly what had happened,” said Warner. “My 12-year-old, Ivy, wanted to know why we were holding her, why there were so many cameras, why we were all crying on TV. That was a hard thing to do.
“But one thing I did say is, ‘Girls, tell the truth, because lies will eventually get out’.
“It’s a very tough time. This is for everyone in Australia. It’s been the question everyone’s been asking.
“It’s been a tough time for my family, Steven and Cameron, no doubt. But this is what needed to come out. I fully support that, Ussie.”
