{
  "id": 18827883,
  "title": "Khawaja says he has thrown nobody 'under the bus'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/khawaja-says-he-has-thrown-nobody-under-the-bus",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T01:00:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News",
    "slug": "abc-news",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-08/usman-khawaja-defends-timing-of-sandpaper-revelations/107360744"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja defended his timing in revealing bombshell revelations about ball-tampering during the 2018 Cape Town Test. In an Instagram post, Khawaja claimed that Steve Smith convinced him not to come forward earlier. Khawaja stated that not having revealed the information sooner proved it was not a money-making venture. He says he and three others took the blame for the entire team, with the three being Warner, Smith, and Cameron Bancroft. Khawaja also alleges that a coaching staff member encouraged Bancroft to ramp up the sandpaper tactic. Despite the initial plan to go public in 2018, Khawaja explained that he was talked out of it by Smith, who wanted to take the blame. Khawaja, known for fighting for what he thought was right, expressed his disappointment with Cricket Australia's handling of the investigation and his own exclusion from the interview.",
  "summary": "Usman Khawaja has revealed Steve Smith talked him out of going public with claims of widespread knowledge around ball-tampering during the 2018 saga.",
  "key_points": [
    "Usman Khawaja claims no one was thrown under the bus.",
    "Steve Smith convinced Khawaja to delay revelation.",
    "Khawaja and Warner, Smith, Bancroft blamed for ball-tampering."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Khawaja’s defense shifts the focus from individual misconduct to a systemic failure by suggesting that coaching staff involvement and internal pressures influenced the team's handling of the scandal.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Khawaja: 'I haven't thrown anyone under the bus'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/khawaja-i-havent-thrown-anyone-under-the-bus-18814472",
        "published": "2026-11-07T23:18:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Khawaja: 'I haven't thrown anyone under the bus'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/khawaja-i-havent-thrown-anyone-under-the-bus",
        "published": "2026-11-07T23:18:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}