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Khawaja made the claims in his upcoming autobiography. Extracts were published by the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday.
The scandal, widely known as “Sandpapergate”, erupted during the third Test in Cape Town in March 2018. Australian players were caught using sandpaper to alter the ball, triggering a major crisis for the team.
According to Khawaja, players held open and informal discussions about ways to scuff up the ball during the South Africa tour. These conversations reportedly included the use of sandpaper.
He claimed the discussions were not limited to batters, bowlers or support staff. Instead, he suggested that the issue involved the wider team.
“It was all of us,” Khawaja said in the autobiography, according to the newspaper.
Khawaja was cleared of wrongdoing during Cricket Australia’s investigation. He played 88 Test matches for Australia and announced his retirement in January.
Cricket Australia defended its original investigation in a statement issued on Saturday.
The governing body said its inquiry found prior knowledge of the ball-tampering plan was limited to three players: Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
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In its statement, Cricket Australia said:
“All relevant information presented to CA to date has been properly considered and we remain comfortable with the findings of our integrity process.”
The organisation added that individuals had an ongoing opportunity to provide relevant information.
Following the scandal, Cricket Australia imposed playing bans and other penalties on Smith, Warner and Bancroft. Head coach Darren Lehmann was cleared of direct involvement but resigned shortly after the series.
Australian captain Pat Cummins has also addressed the controversy. Earlier this month, he dismissed suggestions that Khawaja’s autobiography could trigger further fallout.
Cummins was among the bowlers who played in the infamous Cape Town Test.
South Africa won the four-match Test series in 2018 by 3-1. Australia’s Test team returned to South Africa last month for the first time since the scandal.
The visitors lost that three-match series 2-1.
