Du Plessis suspended as South Africa guilty of slow over rate

Tuesday, 8 January 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

CAPE TOWN (Reuters): South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has been suspended for one test and fined 20 percent of his match fee after his side were charged with a slow over rate in the nine-wicket second test victory over Pakistan at Newlands.

Cricket - South Africa v Pakistan - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - South Africa's Dean Elgar celebrates with Faf du Plessis after winning the match - Reuters

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 their required number in the test.

It is 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 Jan. 17. The rest of the side have also been fined 10 percent of their match fee.

“In accordance with Article 2.22.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel... 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,” the International Cricket Council said in a statement on Sunday.

Cricket South Africa accepted the decision but said “there could be a bit of flexibility given the four-pronged seam attack, taking 20 wickets within three days and playing a general positive brand of cricket, rather than trying to delay/slow down the match”.

South Africa have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three matches 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 number three Hashim Amla.

A new captain will be named by the selectors in the next days, officials added.