Faf du Plessis found guilty of ball tampering

Adelaide: In the International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing on the ball-tampering issue, stand-in South African skipper Faf du Plessis was found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct.

Although, he has been fined 100 percent match fee, he escaped suspension and can lead his team in the third and final Test against Australia here, which is scheduled to begin from November 24.

ICC match referee Andy Pycroft went through the allegations imposed on Du Plessis by ICC chief executive David Richardson during the hearing which lasted for more than three hours on Tuesday (November 22).

"Post coming across the representations from both parties and evidence from the umpires in the second Test as well as Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Head of Cricket John Stephenson, Mr. Pycroft found Mr. du Plessis guilty of the offence," confirmed an ICC media release.

Du Plessis was also given three demerit points for the offence. If he sustains four or more demerit points within next two years, they would automatically convert into suspension points. A player can face ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whichever comes first, on sustaining two suspension points.

A TV footage showed Du Plessis applying saliva to the ball with what was created by a lolly in his mouth. It happened in the 54^th over of the second innings of the Hobart Test. According to law 42.3 of The Laws of Cricket, a player can’t use anything else except sweat and saliva to shine the ball.

The Proteas skipper was levied a lever 2 offence by the ICC for changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3'. Du Plessis pleaded not guilty.

After the allegations were imposed, several South African players started defending Du Plessis. The issue took a bitter turn when a video footage came into light showing a South African support staff member manhandling an Aussie reported who was trying to interview Du Plessis at the Adelaide airport.

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