Proteas seamer, Kagiso Rabada, is clear to play the remainder of the Test series against Australia after his suspension is successfully overturned.
Rabada was found guilty of conduct contrary to the spirit of the game but not guilty of the Level 2 offence.
Cricket South Africa appointed renowned advocate Dali Mpofu to lead the case in an appeal to the ICC in a hearing that lasted six hours.
Rabada’s level 2 charge of making shoulder contact with Australian Captain Steve Smith was subdued to a level 1 charge for conduct contrary to the spirit of the game, resulting in a 25% match fee charge and one demerit point instead of the three demerit points he was handed by match official Jeff Crowe. This brings Rabada’s total demerit points to 7 instead of the 9 he was handed before the ban was lifted.
Rabada is now clear to play with immediate effect and will be available for the rest of the series against Australia with the next Test set for Newlands on the 24th of March.
The ICC released a statement in summary of Right Honourable Michael Heron QC:
“The key issue is whether Mr Rabada made ‘inappropriate and deliberate physical contact’ with Mr Smith. I am not ‘comfortably satisfied’ that Mr Rabada intended to make contact and I therefore find him not guilty of the charge under 2.2.7.
“I am entitled, however, to consider whether the conduct involved constitutes a lower level offence. I consider the conduct was inappropriate, lacked respect for his fellow player and involved non-deliberate and minor contact. The actions contravened the principle that a dismissed batsman should be left alone.
“I consider a penalty of the imposition of a fine of 25% of the applicable match fee to be the appropriate penalty for the breach of Article 2.1.1. As a consequence, 1 demerit point accrues. Mr. Rabada will be well aware of the consequences of any further breaches of the code.”
