Dubai: South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has been suspended for one Test and fined 20 per cent of his match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate during the second Test of their ongoing three-match series against Pakistan which they won by nine wickets. The South African players, on the other hand, were fined 10 per cent of their match fees.
The suspension means that du Plessis would miss the third Test against Pakistan, which is slated to be held from January 11 to 15 in Johannesburg. David Boon of the Elite Panel of International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referees imposed the suspension on du Plessis after South Africa were ruled to be one over short after time allowances were taken into consideration.
In accordance with Article 2.22.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel, which relates to minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.
As du Plessis had previously been found guilty of a minor over-rate offence during the Centurion Test against India which ended on 17 January 2018, this offence constituted his second minor over-rate offence within a 12-month period. The charge was laid by on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Joel Wilson, and third umpire Sundaram Ravi.