{
  "id": 19617091,
  "title": "Marsh refuses to revisit sandpapergate; Cummins prepares to speak on Khawaja's 'allegations'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/marsh-refuses-to-revisit-sandpapergate-cummins-prepares-to-speak-on",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-12T07:22:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ESPNcricinfo",
    "slug": "espncricinfo",
    "url": "https://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/1562314.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Usman Khawaja has alleged in his new memoir, \"Sabr,\" that the 2018 ball-tampering plot was common knowledge throughout the Australian squad and not limited to a small number of players. According to The Citizen, Khawaja claimed that all members of the touring party knew about the plan and suggested a coaching staff member encouraged Cameron Bancroft to use sandpaper. Khawaja denied attempting to spark a “witch hunt,” stating he was merely sharing his version of the truth and seeking team accountability. While the publisher of the autobiography says the promotional tour has undergone schedule adjustments, they denied it has been cancelled, according to BBC Sport.\n\nGraeme Hick, Australia's former batting coach during the period, has dismissed Khawaja's claims as \"absolutely false,\" according to Yahoo Sports. Hick stated he first learned of the incident via the big screen in Cape Town and expressed disappointment regarding the broad nature of the allegations. However, Times of India reports that David Warner has backed Khawaja by questioning the integrity of the original investigation.\n\nAhead of captaining Australia against England, Mitchell Marsh declined to comment on the 2018 scandal, telling reporters he would not be sharing his story at this time, per ESPNcricinfo.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Usman Khawaja book name: Release date, Sandpapergate and what to expect from ex-Australia star's 'explosive' book",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/usman-khawaja-book-name-release-date-sandpapergate-and-what-to-expect",
        "published": "2026-11-07T02:50:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Warner backs Khawaja’s Sandpapergate account, calls Cricket Australia probe ‘rushed and botched’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/warner-backs-khawajas-sandpapergate-account-calls-cricket-australia",
        "published": "2026-11-09T09:42:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Sandpapergate row: Starc stands by his version despite Warner backing Khawaja",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/sandpapergate-row-starc-stands-by-his-version-despite-warner-backing",
        "published": "2026-11-10T06:31:12.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}