{
  "id": 18624023,
  "title": "Australia's Khawaja claims entire team knew about 'Sandpapergate'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/australias-khawaja-claims-entire-team-knew-about-sandpapergate",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T02:43:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/cricket/2026/11/1572639/australias-khawaja-claims-entire-team-knew-about-sandpapergate"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has revealed that the entire team was aware of the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal during their Test matches in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Captain Steve Smith, deputy Steve Warner, and teammate Cameron Bancroft faced severe consequences, being sent home disgracefully and later banned for their involvement in the ball-tampering plot. Khawaja, who retired after 88 Tests, stated that everyone in the team, including bowlers, was aware of the tactic. Despite some bowlers denying knowledge of the plot in 2021, Khawaja emphasized the need to take collective responsibility rather than scapegoating the three players who faced severe penalties.",
  "summary": "SYDNEY: Former opener Usman Khawaja claimed on Saturday that the entire Australian team knew about the 2018 “Sandpapergate” scandal in Cape Town and said they also employed the tactic during the previous Test at Port Elizabeth.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "Whole Australia team knew of sandpaper use - Khawaja",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/whole-australia-team-knew-of-sandpaper-use-khawaja",
        "published": "2026-11-06T22:06:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Usman Khawaja reveals ‘all of us’ involved in 2018 Australia sandpaper ball-tampering scandal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/usman-khawaja-reveals-all-of-us-involved-in-2018-australia-sandpaper",
        "published": "2026-11-07T00:58:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja disputes findings in 2018 ball-tampering probe",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/australian-cricketer-usman-khawaja-disputes-findings-in-2018-ball",
        "published": "2026-11-07T01:34:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Lehmann says 'everyone' was ball tampering globally, denies Khawaja's sandpaper claims",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/lehmann-says-everyone-was-ball-tampering-globally-denies-khawajas",
        "published": "2026-11-07T03:49:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}