{
  "id": 16309480,
  "title": "‘You did nothing wrong’: Faf reveals message to Steve Smith during Sandpapergate",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/you-did-nothing-wrong-faf-reveals-message-to-steve-smith-during",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-24T08:25:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/you-did-nothing-wrong-faf-du-plessis-reveals-message-to-steve-smith-during-sandpapergate/articleshow/135165907.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "During the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, Faf du Plessis reached out to Steve Smith to offer his support. He questioned why Smith accepted blame for the incident despite not being culpable. Drawing from his own experience with a similar charge in 2016, du Plessis expressed empathy for Smith's situation under intense media criticism. Their mutual respect, evident from past support, solidified a bond…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ESPNcricinfo",
        "title": "Faf du Plessis to Steven Smith: 'You did nothing wrong, just be strong'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/faf-du-plessis-to-steven-smith-you-did-nothing-wrong-just-be-strong",
        "published": "2026-10-24T02:19:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}