{
  "id": 19790181,
  "title": "IN DENIAL: Pat Cummins rejects Khawaja’s Sandpapergate allegations as ‘utter nonsense’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/in-denial-pat-cummins-rejects-khawajas-sandpapergate-allegations-as",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-13T10:20:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-11-13-pat-cummins-rejects-khawajas-sandpapergate-allegations-as-utter-nonsense/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Australia cricket captain Pat Cummins vehemently denied former teammate Usman Khawaja's allegations from Khawaja's autobiography, calling them \"utter nonsense\". Khawaja claimed that all players knew about the plan to use sandpaper on the ball during the 2018 Test match against South Africa in Cape Town. However, Cummins stated he had no knowledge of such a plan and that Khawaja was incorrect in suggesting they all knew. Cummins also dismissed Khawaja's claim that he and others were \"architects\" of the scheme, insisting there was no master plan or team meeting to tamper with the ball.",
  "summary": "Australia captain Pat Cummins hit back at former teammate Usman Khawaja’s claims over the 2018 sandpaper scandal in South Africa.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian Australia",
        "title": "‘Abrasive’, ‘arrogant’ and ‘ugly’: standout moments from Pat Cummins’ sandpapergate press conference",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/abrasive-arrogant-and-ugly-standout-moments-from-pat-cummins",
        "published": "2026-11-13T03:12:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News",
        "title": "David Warner slams Pat Cummins over Sandpapergate denial",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/david-warner-slams-pat-cummins-over-sandpapergate-denial",
        "published": "2026-11-13T03:46:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Cummins’ answers won’t end Sandpapergate debate, but he couldn’t have done any better",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/cummins-answers-wont-end-sandpapergate-debate-but-he-couldnt-have",
        "published": "2026-11-13T04:17:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Cummins’ answers won’t end Sandpapergate debate, but he couldn’t have done any better",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/cummins-answers-wont-end-sandpapergate-debate-but-he-couldnt-have-19759053",
        "published": "2026-11-13T04:17:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Australia’s Cummins says Khawaja ‘100 percent wrong’ on ‘Sandpapergate’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/australias-cummins-says-khawaja-100-percent-wrong-on-sandpapergate",
        "published": "2026-11-13T05:22:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Australia captain Pat Cummins denies involvement in ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/australia-captain-pat-cummins-denies-involvement-in-sandpapergate",
        "published": "2026-11-13T06:13:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "‘He’s owned up to it….’: Pat Cummins backs Steve Smith on Sandpapergate saga",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/hes-owned-up-to-it-pat-cummins-backs-steve-smith-on-sandpapergate-saga",
        "published": "2026-11-13T12:09:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}