{
  "id": 18874640,
  "title": "Usman Khawaja denies throwing 'anyone under the bus' with comments about Australia's 2018 ball-tampering scandal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/usman-khawaja-denies-throwing-anyone-under-the-bus-with-comments",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T06:01:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2043036/usman-khawaja-denies-throwing-anyone-under-the-bus-with-comments-about-australias-2018-ball-tampering-scandal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has denied allegations that he \"threw anyone under the bus\" with his recent comments about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. According to Khawaja, he did not single out any individual but instead claimed responsibility on behalf of the entire Australian team. The retired batsman defended his decision to take eight years to go public with the allegations, stating that he wanted to come forward when Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were suspended. However, Khawaja revealed that both Smith and the team's coach, Darren Lehmann, ultimately convinced him not to speak out earlier.\n\nKhawaja also addressed the notion that he was merely trying to sell his autobiography, claiming that his intention was to address the issue publicly when he felt comfortable. He said he revisited the topic in 2021 but ultimately decided against it after extensive talks with former coach Justin Langer. Khawaja emphasized that he never felt comfortable discussing the matter while he was still a member of the Australian team, citing his concern for putting his team first. He also acknowledged that he is now free from that obligation as a retired player.",
  "summary": "Usman Khawaja insisted on Sunday he did not “throw anyone under the bus” by claiming the entire Australian team was in on the 2018 “Sandpapergate” plot and defended taking eight years to go public. The retired batsman re-ignited the infamous ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town on Saturday ahead of the release of his autobiography this week, where a chapter is dedicated to the issue. He alleged…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Usman Khawaja claims entire Australia team knew about sandpaper ball-tampering",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/usman-khawaja-claims-entire-australia-team-knew-about-sandpaper-ball",
        "published": "2026-11-07T09:52:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Why Usman Khawaja’s meeting with Anthony Albanese got ‘heated’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/why-usman-khawajas-meeting-with-anthony-albanese-got-heated",
        "published": "2026-11-07T18:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Why Usman Khawaja’s meeting with Anthony Albanese got ‘heated’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/why-usman-khawajas-meeting-with-anthony-albanese-got-heated-18759900",
        "published": "2026-11-07T18:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Australian cricketer Khawaja disputes findings in 2018 ball-tampering probe",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/australian-cricketer-khawaja-disputes-findings-in-2018-ball-tampering",
        "published": "2026-11-07T23:04:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Khawaja denies throwing 'anyone under the bus' with comments about ball-tampering scandal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/khawaja-denies-throwing-anyone-under-the-bus-with-comments-about-ball",
        "published": "2026-11-08T05:01:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}