{
  "id": 19772754,
  "title": "Sandpaper saga: Pat Cummins calls Usman Khawaja allegations 'nonsense'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/sandpaper-saga-pat-cummins-calls-usman-khawaja-allegations-nonsense",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-13T06:57:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/2026/11/13/sandpaper-saga-pat-cummins-calls-usman-khawaja-allegations-nonsense/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Australia's Pat Cummins firmly rejected the claims made by his teammate Usman Khawaja in his autobiography that the team conspired to use sandpaper for ball-tampering during the 2018 Test series in South Africa, calling them \"utter nonsense\". Khawaja had alleged that all the players knew about the plan, suggesting that Cummins and others were involved in orchestrating the illegal tactic. However, Cummins categorically denied this, stating that he was unaware of such a scheme. He emphasized that there was no master plan or team meeting to discuss illegal methods, and that the allegations against him were \"complete and utter nonsense\". Cummins also strongly rejected Khawaja's suggestion that he was omitted from consideration for the captaincy of the Australian team due to his ethnicity, calling it \"a pretty big statement\" and demanding proof.",
  "summary": "Australia captain Pat Cummins vehemently denied any involvement in the plot to use sandpaper for ball-tampering during the 2018 Test series in South Africa, stating that the allegations in Usman Khawaja's autobiography are “utter nonsense”. Former Australia batsman Khawaja said that all the players in the team at Newlands knew about the plan to alter the condition of the ball, putting the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}