Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has decided to appeal against his two-match ban that was the result of accumulating eight demerit points since the system was introduced.
Rabada is understood to have taken on legal advice and weighed the pros and cons of an appeal and will go ahead with the ICC to set a date for his Judiciary commission.
The fast bowler was the man of the match in a feisty encounter at St George’s Park taking eleven wickets to help South Africa level the series against Australia.
Rabada was handed two demerits for making contact with an opposition player, when he brushed past Steve Smith after dismissing him on day one.
The ICC confirmed the appeal on social media, tweeting: “ICC confirms that Kagiso Rabada has appealed against the Level 2 breach following the incident with Steve Smith during the Port Elizabeth Test. ICC will now appoint a Judicial Commissioner at the earliest opportunity and hearing details will be confirmed in due course.”
Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis believes that Rabada has done nothing wrong but admitted in the post match press conference that he may need to adjust the way he celebrates wickets.
Rabada was suspended for one Test during last year’s Test series in England after giving Ben Stokes a foulmouthed send off.
The quick was given an additional demerit for his send-off of David Warner in Australia’s second innings in Port Elizabeth while Mitchell Marsh earned his first demerit for a volley of curses that he sent Rabada’s way on the fourth morning.
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