{
  "id": 18683271,
  "title": "BOMBSHELL: Khawaja shatters cover-up, sandpaper plan was spoken about openly in the dressing Room",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/bombshell-khawaja-shatters-cover-up-sandpaper-plan-was-spoken-about",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T09:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/sport/cricket/international/2026-11-07-bombshell-khawaja-shatters-cover-up-sandpaper-plan-was-spoken-about-openly-in-the-dressing-room/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has claimed in his upcoming autobiography that the entire Australian cricket team was aware of the ball-tampering plot during the 2018 Cape Town Test, contradicting the official narrative that only captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were involved. Khawaja revealed that the discussion about ball alteration started during the second Test in Gqeberha, South Africa, and that the team openly discussed using sandpaper as a method. When the plan was exposed, Smith allegedly dismissed his involvement. Khawaja urged his teammates to accept collective responsibility, stating, \"We did this as a team. We knew what was going on.\" However, Smith, Warner and Bancroft were heavily criticized and received lengthy bans. Khawaja lamented that they were left to face the fallout, despite never being interviewed by Cricket Australia's investigation. The allegations directly challenge the claims of Australia's frontline bowling attack who had previously denied knowledge of the scheme.",
  "summary": "In his upcoming autobiography 'Sabr', former Australian opener Usman Khawaja blows the whistle on the 2018 Cape Town scandal, claiming the entire dressing room was fully aware of the ball-tampering plot.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "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": "New Straits Times",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-11-07T02:43:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Khawaja claims entire Australia team knew about 2018 ball-tampering scandal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/khawaja-claims-entire-australia-team-knew-about-2018-ball-tampering",
        "published": "2026-11-07T05:46:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "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-18653464",
        "published": "2026-11-07T06:21:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "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-18662828",
        "published": "2026-11-07T07:01:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "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-18682020",
        "published": "2026-11-07T09:10:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}