South Africa Captain Faf du Plessis Suspended for Slow Over-rate Against Pakistan

Cricketnext Staff | Updated: January 6, 2019, 7:32 PM IST

After taking an unassailable 2-0 lead against Pakistan in the three Test match series, South African skipper Faf du Plessis has been handed a one match suspension and fined 20 percent of his match fees for slow over-rate.

The rest of the South African team have also been handed a fine of 10 percent of their match fees for their slow over-rate in the second Test in Cape Town where they beat Pakistan by nine wickets.

ICC Elite Panel referee David Boon handed out the punishment to the Proteas captain after they were ruled to be one over short after time allowances were taken into consideration.

According to Article 2.22.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel, which relates to minor over-rate offences, the players are supposed to be fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, and the captain will be fined double the amount.

This is the South African skipper’s second such offence in less than a year, the reason why he has also been banned for a Test, after he had been pulled up against India during the Centurion Test which ended on January 17, 2018.

Du Plessis’ suspension means he will miss the third Test against Pakistan in Johannesburg on January 11.

The initial charge was laid by on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Joel Wilson, and third umpire Sundaram Ravi.