JOHANNESBURG – Proteas captain Faf du Plessis has been found guilty of ball tampering following a hearing before Andy Pycroft of the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees in Adelaide on Tuesday.
Under the version of the Code that came into force on September 22, 2016, the offence was treated as a first offence. Du Plessis was fined 100 percent of his match fee and is free to play in the third Test in Adelaide on Thursday.
#ICCnews Faf du Plessis found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct https://t.co/OKl5yuce3A pic.twitter.com/cjqOYq0o7S
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) November 22, 2016
South Africans standing shoulder to shoulder in defense of Faf du Plessis. Clearly upset by allegations. #ausvsa pic.twitter.com/J4TBdTKsiQ
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) November 18, 2016
Du Plessis was charged by ICC Chief Executive David Richardson after television footage appeared to show Du Plessis applying an artificial substance to the ball during the fourth day’s play in the second Test against Australia in Hobart.
The decision was based on the evidence given from the umpires, who confirmed that had they seen the incident they would have taken action immediately, and from Stephenson, who confirmed the view of MCC that the television footage showed an artificial substance being transferred to the ball.
In addition, three demerit points have been added to Du Plessis’s disciplinary record.
If Du Plessis reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they will be converted into suspension points and he will be banned. Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player.
Three consecutive series wins for South Africa in Australia. The last team to do that was the WI team of the 80s and early 90s#AUSvSA
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 15, 2016
– African News Agency
