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'Wrong' and 'nonsense' - Cummins on Khawaja sandpaper claims

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Shemilt, S. (2026, November 12). 'Wrong' and 'nonsense' - Cummins on Khawaja sandpaper claims. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cwq6e4y9525mo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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BBC News · collected 2026-11-13 · by Stephan Shemilt

Quick Summary

Australia captain Pat Cummins has publicly refuted claims made in Usman Khawaja's new autobiography regarding the 2018 sandpaper ball-tampering scandal. Khawaja asserted that the entire team, including Cummins, knew about the scheme and should have taken responsibility, but Cummins characterized these claims as "100% wrong" and "complete and utter nonsense." The report focuses on Cummins' defense of his own reputation, stating he had no knowledge of sandpaper being used on the field during that match in Cape Town.
Written by AI on 2026-11-13, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).
See how they differ ↓

AI analysis

Story summary

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has publicly denounced claims made by former teammate Usman Khawaja regarding the 2018 "Sandpapergate" ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, South Africa. In an intense press conference lasting over 70 minutes in Sydney, Cummins labeled Khawaja's assertions as "100 per cent wrong" and "complete and utter nonsense." The controversy stems from Khawaja’s new autobiography, Sabr, which alleges that the entire Australian team, including Cummins, knew about the scheme to use sandpaper to rough up the ball and should have taken responsibility. Cummins countered that he was 24 at the time and played in a team with a "win at all cost mentality" and "too many silos," maintaining that he had no knowledge of the tampering. He further expressed a sense of betrayal, criticizing Khawaja for being "casual" and "flippant" with the lives and reputations of his friends and the sport of cricket. While Cummins stated he wanted to move on from the scandal, he also revealed that he had personally witnessed ball tampering during the Sheffield Shield competition, though he refused to provide specific details. Khawaja has since cancelled several media appearances following the public fallout but denied withdrawing from his book tour.

Written for “Sandpapergate scandal” on 2026-11-14, grounded in this article and the 16 other(s) covering the same event.

How they differ

6 outlets covered “Sandpapergate scandal”.

What each outlet says

One AI summary per outlet of its latest article on this story, written from that article alone and checked against it. Open the article for the outlet's own words.

BBCThis outlet13 Nov

Australia captain Pat Cummins has publicly refuted claims made in Usman Khawaja's new autobiography regarding the 2018 sandpaper ball-tampering scandal. Khawaja asserted that the entire team, including Cummins, knew about the scheme and should have taken responsibility, but Cummins characterized these claims as "100% wrong" and "complete and utter nonsense." The report focuses on Cummins' defense of his own…

'Wrong' and 'nonsense' - Cummins on Khawaja sandpaper claims (this article)2 articles from BBC on this story
Sydney Morning Herald13 Nov

This analysis explores the ongoing fallout of the 2018 "sandpapergate" scandal, specifically focusing on the conflicting testimonies between retired opener Usman Khawaja and current Test captain Pat Cummins. During a 68-minute press conference in Sydney, Cummins explicitly rejected Khawaja’s claims of a team-wide conspiracy as "100 per cent wrong" and "utter nonsense." The author argues that the Australian public…

Two men, two diametrically opposite accounts. A choice must be made: Team Uzzie or Team Pat? →7 articles from Sydney Morning Herald on this story
Dawn14 Nov

This analysis piece reports on the rekindled controversy surrounding the 2018 "Sandpapergate" ball-tampering scandal following the release of Usman Khawaja's autobiography. Khawaja claims the entire team knew about the plot to alter the ball during the Cape Town Test against South Africa, a claim Australian captain Pat Cummins vehemently denied during a 70-minute press conference on Friday. While figures like Justin…

Stench of ‘Sandpapergate’ set to linger as scandal reignites →2 articles from Dawn on this story
Al Jazeera13 Nov

Australia cricket captain Pat Cummins has denied allegations from former teammate Usman Khawaja linking him to the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. This news report details how Cummins rejected claims made in Khawaja's new book regarding the use of sandpaper during that event. Cummins stated he feels betrayed by the accusations and maintains he had no involvement in the scandal.

Australia captain Cummins denies involvement in ‘Sandpapergate’ →2 articles from Al Jazeera on this story
ABC News (AU)13 Nov

Pat Cummins held a passionate, hour-long press conference where he accused Usman Khawaja of being "casual" with people's lives and reputations. Cummins dismissed Khawaja's claims about the 2018 ball-tampering incident as "complete and utter nonsense." He also acknowledged witnessing ball tampering during Sheffield Shield matches but refused to provide further details.

Cummins hits out at Khawaja in passionate hour-long press conference →
Daily Mail13 Nov

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins addressed the media in Sydney on Friday to refute claims of a marital row after being photographed in a heated discussion with his wife, Rebecca, outside their home. Cummins clarified that his wife was actually frustrated with former teammate Usman Khawaja, whose autobiography released on Tuesday sparked a new controversy regarding the 2018 "Sandpapergate" ball-tampering…

Pat Cummins reveals his wife urged him to 'be honest' about Sandpapergate after Usman Khawaja's bombshell claims: 'People are hurting' →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 8% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Australia captain Pat Cummins denies involvement in ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal Same event
Al Jazeera
Hedges 0 of 41 claims Outlet record 60/100
'Utter nonsense', Australia skipper Cummins denies involvement in sandpaper plot Same event
Dawn
Hedges 0 of 22 claims Outlet record 72/100
Khawaja is 100 per cent wrong: Pat Cummins responds to sandpaper revelations Same event
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 2 of 17 claims Outlet record 61/100
WATCH LIVE: Pat Cummins says Usman Khawaja’s claims about 2018 sandpaper scandal ’100 per cent wrong’ in press conference Same event
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 2 of 61 claims Outlet record 61/100
Pat Cummins reveals his wife urged him to 'be honest' about Sandpapergate after Usman Khawaja's bombshell claims: 'People are hurting' Same event
Daily Mail
Hedges 4 of 45 claims Outlet record 70/100
Cummins’ answers won’t end Sandpapergate debate, but he couldn’t have done any better Same event
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 12 of 53 claims Outlet record 61/100
Usman Khawaja’s ‘Sandpapergate’ claims are ‘accurate’, says David Warner Different event
Al Jazeera
Hedges 2 of 19 claims Outlet record 60/100
“The articles discuss different reactions to the same scandal but report on distinct statements made by Warner and Cummins at different times.”
Cricket Australia will not open another investigation into ‘sandpapergate’ Different event
Al Jazeera
Hedges 1 of 16 claims Outlet record 60/100
“The articles discuss different reactions to the sandpaper scandal over time, with Article A focusing on Cricket Australia's decision not to investigate further and Article B on Australia captain Pat Cummins' response to Usman Khawaja's claims in his autobiography.”
Cummins hits out at Khawaja in passionate hour-long press conference Same event
ABC News (AU)
Hedges 1 of 4 claims Outlet record 67/100
The truth is somewhere in the sandpaper scandal Same event
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 11 of 129 claims Outlet record 61/100

Story

Sandpapergate scandal
Sports · 17 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↑
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
12
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
8%
1 of 12 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
66/100
BBC News's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
17
Sports
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-11-13 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

BBC News · 5818 article(s) · 7 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 7 correction(s)
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Who wrote this

Stephan Shemilt
18 article(s) here · 0 carrying a prediction
Would either of the Houston Astros or Boston Red Sox have won the World Series without sign stealing?
2026-11-10 · assertive framing · Australia doomed to live with stench of sandpapergate
Saltburn's second XI have also been relegated from Division Two and will start the 2027 season in Division Three with a 60-point deduction.
2026-11-06 · assertive framing · Two-year ban for 'Clicky Ponting' cricketer
Anderson, England's all-time leading wicket-taker, was informed by Lancashire last Monday that he will not be offered a new contract by the county he first represented in 2001.
2026-10-25 · assertive framing · Anderson stops short of retiring after Lancashire exit
- Published James Anderson will have options to extend his legendary playing career after being told he will not be given a new contract by Lancashire.
2026-10-22 · assertive framing · Counties interested in Anderson after Lancashire exit
- Published Just under a year ago, Harry Brook was left wondering if he would be sacked as England white-ball captain and what damage he had done to his international career.
2026-10-22 · assertive framing · Brook underlines status as world's best all-format batter in run-fest
Root miscued to be caught for 69, leading England to promote Will Jacks to number five for a blistering unbroken stand of 185 from only 79 balls with Brook.
2026-10-22 · assertive framing · Harry Brook's double century breaks record for highest-ever England one-day score
Nevertheless, this was a game they could have won had they not wasted their opportunities, while squad players missed chances to press their case.
2026-10-20 · assertive framing · Sloppy England start winter with Pakistan defeat
It is thought the 18-year-old will become the youngest captain in Lions history when he leads the side in three T20s against West Indies A in St Kitts and Nevis in November.
2026-10-16 · assertive framing · Rew, 18, to captain England Lions in West Indies
Breetzke and the uncapped Marques Ackerman look set to come into the top order in place of Stubbs and Verreynne.
2026-10-15 · assertive framing · South Africa call on 'Aussie agitator' Breetzke
Kevin Pietersen will also work with the white-ball teams in the run-up to the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa next year.
2026-10-12 · assertive framing · Key suggests Carse can return as England reveal contract list
Also by Stephan Shemilt
Australia doomed to live with stench of sandpapergate
2026-11-10 · BBC News
Two-year ban for 'Clicky Ponting' cricketer
2026-11-06 · BBC News
Anderson stops short of retiring after Lancashire exit
2026-10-25 · BBC News
Counties interested in Anderson after Lancashire exit
2026-10-22 · BBC News
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 18 articles by Stephan Shemilt →

Topics

Australia Cape Town New South Wales South Africa Sydney

Subjects

Cummins PERSON · 5× Australia GPE · 4× Khawaja PERSON · 4× Cameron Bancroft PERSON · 1× Cape Town GPE · 1× David Warner PERSON · 1× Pat Cummins PERSON · 1× South Africa GPE · 1× Steve Smith PERSON · 1× Usman Khawaja PERSON · 1×

Narrative

Khawaja has published his autobiography this week and the former batter has said the entire Australia team, which included Cummins, knew about the sandpaper scheme and should have taken responsibility.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-11-13
2026-11-13 · BBC News
'Wrong' and 'nonsense' - Cummins on Khawaja sandpaper claims · assertive framing

Claims (12 extracted, 1 hedged)

- Published Australia captain Pat Cummins has hit back at former team-mate Usman Khawaja's claims over the sandpaper scandal, calling them "100% wrong" and "utter nonsense". uncertain
Cummins → publish → them
In 2018, Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were punished for a plot to tamper with the ball using sandpaper in Australia's Test against South Africa in Cape Town. asserted
Smith → punish → Town
Khawaja has published his autobiography this week and the former batter has said the entire Australia team, which included Cummins, knew about the sandpaper scheme and should have taken responsibility. asserted
which → publish → responsibility
But in an extraordinary address to the media in Sydney, Cummins countered and said: "When he says we all knew, if by that he means we knew sandpaper was going out on the field, he's 100% wrong. asserted
he → counter → field
"I said that consistently for the last eight years. asserted
I → say → years
I did not know that was happening. asserted
that → know → ?
"He says that I and others were architects of a scheme to ball tamper with sandpaper. asserted
I → say → sandpaper
Cummins and Khawaja played 56 Tests together until Khawaja retired from international cricket in January. asserted
Khawaja → play → January
Khawaja was in the Australia XI when Cummins made his Test debut in 2011 and the pair were also once team-mates in domestic cricket with New South Wales. asserted
pair → make → Wales
"Usman is a friend, but friends aren't casual with each other's lives and reputations," said Cummins. asserted
Cummins → say → lives
"In his book he's been casual with my life and the lives of many others - and, I think, Australian cricket. asserted
I → think → others
I support him to tell his story, 100%, I'm glad he feels like he can, but we have to be accountable for the things that we say and do." asserted
we → support → that
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