{
  "id": 18642426,
  "title": "Usman Khawaja remained silent for eight years. Why did he speak out now?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/usman-khawaja-remained-silent-for-eight-years-why-did-he-speak-out-now",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T05:09:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Age",
    "slug": "the-age",
    "url": "https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/usman-khawaja-remained-silent-for-eight-years-why-did-he-speak-out-now-20261107-p61c9g.html?ref=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "In his new memoir, titled Sabr, former Australian batter Usman Khawaja made revelations regarding the 2018 ball-tampering scandal during the tour of South Africa. According to The Indian Express, Khawaja claimed the entire Australian contingent was aware of the sandpaper tactic used during the third Test in Cape Town, stating that the knowledge included batters, bowlers, and staff.\n\nKhawaja told The Sydney Morning Herald that discussions regarding the use of sandpaper as an effective agent began during the previous Test in Port Elizabeth at St George's Park. He wrote that during these discussions, then-captain Steve Smith essentially stated he did not want to know.\n\nThe Age and The Sydney Morning Herald noted that Cricket Australia and its Test players might eventually look back on a failure to honestly and broadly tell the truth regarding the 2018 Newlands tour.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Usman Khawaja remained silent for eight years. Why did he speak out now?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/usman-khawaja-remained-silent-for-eight-years-why-did-he-speak-out-now-18642466",
        "published": "2026-11-07T05:09:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Usman Khawaja drops bombshell: Entire Australia team knew about 2018 Sandpapergate cheating scandal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/usman-khawaja-drops-bombshell-entire-australia-team-knew-about-2018",
        "published": "2026-11-07T06:01:22.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}