Du Plessis will sit out the final match of the series starting in Johannesburg on Friday after match referee David Boon imposed the suspension having found South Africa to be one over short of its required number in the match.

The Proteas fielded a four-man pace attack in Cape Town with Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier bowling all the 121.5 overs they sent down in the match.

It’s the second time in 12 months that Du Plessis and his side have been found guilty of a slow over rate after a Test against India in Johannesburg that ended on January 17. The rest of the side has also been fined 10 per cent of their match fee.

“The team management and Faf have accepted and respect the decision as it falls under the International Cricket Council code of conduct,” a team spokesperson said. “However, they feel there could be a bit of flexibility given the four-pronged seam attack, taking 20 wickets within three days and playing a positive brand of cricket, rather than trying to delay or slow down the match.”

South Africa has an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three match series, but could field a much-changed batting line-up in the third Test with the absence of Du Plessis and injury concerns over opener Aiden Markram and No.3 Hashim Amla. A new captain will be named by the selectors in the next days, officials added.

Opening batsman Dean Elgar took over the captaincy on the last occasion Du Plessis missed a Test, in England in 2017 when Du Plessis flew home for the birth of his first child.  Zubayr Hamza is a member of the current Test squad as a back-up batsman and is likely to win his first cap in place of Du Plessis.