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  "published_at": "2026-11-12T01:56:19.237Z",
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    "headline": "Khawaja says all of Australia's 2018 team knew of the ball-tampering plot",
    "dek": "The official inquiry found only three players knew. A former coach calls the claim absolutely false. Warner backs it. Captain Pat Cummins answers on Friday.",
    "prose": "Usman Khawaja claims the entire Australia cricket team of 2018 knew about the ball-tampering known as Sandpapergate.[^1] He made the claim in his new autobiography, titled Sabr.[^2]\n\nCricket Australia rejected it.[^3]\n\n## What the record says\n\nThe scandal involved Australia scuffing a ball with sandpaper at a Test match in Cape Town.[^4] Cricket Australia's original investigation found that only Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft had prior knowledge of the plot.[^5]\n\nSmith was banned for a year and removed as captain.[^6] Warner received a 12-month suspension and was stripped of all leadership roles.[^7] Bancroft was banned for nine months.[^8]\n\nKhawaja himself was cleared of wrongdoing in that inquiry.[^9] He retired from international cricket in January.[^10]\n\n## Who says he is wrong\n\nGraeme Hick, the batting coach at the time, said the allegations are absolutely false.[^11] Darren Lehmann, then the head coach, denied that all members of the team knew.[^12]\n\nThe bowlers in that side, Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon, publicly denied knowledge of the plot in 2021.[^13]\n\n## Who says he is right\n\nDavid Warner supports Khawaja's claim that the whole team knew.[^14] Warner is one of the three men who were punished.\n\n## The captain\n\nThe claim lands hardest on the current captain. Pat Cummins was one of the bowlers who denied knowledge in 2021.[^15] He said Khawaja told him the book was coming.[^16] He will address the allegations on Friday.[^17]\n\nCricket Australia confirmed he will remain captain.[^18]\n\n## The board\n\nCricket Australia will not reopen the investigation.[^19] It said it remains comfortable with the original findings.[^20]",
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plot.\",\"source\":\"aljazeera.com\",\"instrument\":\"\",\"claim_key\":\"doc:australia-cricket-ball-tampering-sandpapergate-usman-khawaja-206264:2\",\"url\":\"https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/11/7/australia-cricket-ball-tampering-sandpapergate-usman-khawaja\"},{\"statement\":\"Steve Smith was banned for one year and removed as team captain over the scandal.\",\"source\":\"aljazeera.com\",\"instrument\":\"\",\"claim_key\":\"doc:australia-cricket-ball-tampering-sandpapergate-usman-khawaja-206264:3\",\"url\":\"https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/11/7/australia-cricket-ball-tampering-sandpapergate-usman-khawaja\"},{\"statement\":\"David Warner received a 12 month suspension and was stripped of all leadership roles.\",\"source\":\"aljazeera.com\",\"instrument\":\"\",\"claim_key\":\"doc:australia-cricket-ball-tampering-sandpapergate-usman-khawaja-206264:4\",\"url\":\"https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/11/7/australia-cricket-ball-tampering-sandpapergate-usman-khawaja\"},{\"statement\":\"Cameron Bancroft received a nine month ban over the scandal.\",\"source\":\"aljazeera.com\",\"instrument\":\"\",\"claim_key\":\"doc:australia-cricket-ball-tampering-sandpapergate-usman-khawaja-206264:5\",\"url\":\"https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/11/7/australia-cricket-ball-tampering-sandpapergate-usman-khawaja\"},{\"statement\":\"Usman Khawaja was cleared of wrongdoing in the original scandal inquiry.\",\"source\":\"aljazeera.com\",\"instrument\":\"\",\"claim_key\":\"doc:australia-cricket-ball-tampering-sandpapergate-usman-khawaja-206264:6\",\"url\":\"https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/11/7/australia-cricket-ball-tampering-sandpapergate-usman-khawaja\"},{\"statement\":\"Usman Khawaja retired from international cricket in January 2026.\",\"source\":\"aljazeera.com\",\"instrument\":\"\",\"claim_key\":\"doc:australia-cricket-ball-tampering-sandpapergate-usman-khawaja-206264:7\",\"url\":\"https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/11/7/australia-cricket-ball-tampering-sandpapergate-usman-khawaja\"},{\"statement\":\"Graeme Hick stated Khawaja's Sandpapergate allegations are absolutely false.\",\"source\":\"france24.com\",\"instrument\":\"\",\"claim_key\":\"doc:20261111-ex-australia-batting-coach-hick-says-khawaja-sandpa-382130:6\",\"url\":\"https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20261111-ex-australia-batting-coach-hick-says-khawaja-sandpapergate-claims-absolutely-false\"},{\"statement\":\"Darren Lehmann denied that all team members knew about the ball-tampering.\",\"source\":\"thenationalnews.com\",\"instrument\":\"\",\"claim_key\":\"doc:page-html-706028:4\",\"url\":\"https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/2026/11/07/usman-khawaja-claims-entire-australia-team-knew-about-sandpaper-ball-tampering/\"},{\"statement\":\"Bowlers Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon publicly denied knowledge of the scandal in 2021.\",\"source\":\"aljazeera.com\",\"instrument\":\"\",\"claim_key\":\"doc:australia-cricket-ball-tampering-sandpapergate-usman-khawaja-206264:9\",\"url\":\"https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/11/7/australia-cricket-ball-tampering-sandpapergate-usman-khawaja\"},{\"statement\":\"David Warner supports Khawaja's claim that all team members knew of the 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      "statement": "Cameron Bancroft received a nine month ban over the scandal.",
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