S. African official clashes with Aussie reporter
S. African official clashes with Aussie reporter
November 22, 2016 | 12:04 AM
Faf du Plessis
November 22, 2016 | 12:04 AM
Last Updated: November 22, 2016 | 12:04 AM
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Faf du Plessis[/caption]ADELAIDE, Australia - A security official travelling with the South African team shoved an Australian television reporter against a glass door in ugly scenes as he attempted to interview captain Faf du Plessis Monday.
Du Plessis is due to face an International Cricket Council disciplinary hearing on ball tampering charges arising from the second Test against Australia in Hobart last week, and tensions with media are simmering.
Nine Network reporter Will Crouch was aggressively pulled away from the skipper as the team arrived at Adelaide airport ahead of the third and final Test this week, footage showed.
The journalist pushed back before he was shouldered away and into the door by a man Australian media said was Proteas security chief Zunaid Wadee.
Du Plessis was wearing headphones at the time of the altercation and reporters said he gave a thumbs-up to cameras moments before Wadee clashed with Crouch, who was unharmed.
Veteran batsman Hashim Amla lashed out at the reporter. "Disappointed..
such provocative behavior from reporters. Let a man walk in peace. Ask with manners n courtesy and u prob will get a response," he tweeted.
Channel Nine said Wadee also had a run-in with one of its reporters in Melbourne over the weekend as he attempted to ask Du Plessis about the tampering issue.
The Proteas skipper allegedly had a sweet, or mint, in his mouth and rubbed saliva into the ball to get more swing during the Hobart match and is facing a one-match ban.
A hearing will be held by Andy Pycroft of the ICC match referees panel. The results will be announced in due course, the ICC said in a statement Friday.
South Africa is chasing a first-ever series whitewash in Australia when they go into Thursday's pink ball Test in Adelaide.
South Africa accused Australian media of "harassment" after the incident.
Team manager Mohammed Moosajee said Australian media and Channel Nine, in particular, have been told several times that Cricket South Africa and du Plessis were not in a position to comment on the ball-tampering case.
"We have advised of our media protocol which has been blatantly ignored, both at the team's hotel on Friday and Saturday and again at the airport in Adelaide today," Moosajee said in a statement.
"The 'reporter' at the airport disrespected us and continued to harass Faf for comment. He was advised to move three times, and did not adhere to this request," he said.
"The 'reporter', who also had no official accreditation, then proceeded to lunge towards Faf with an unknown object causing a direct breach of security protocol. The reporter also shoved the team manager in the back.
"Throughout the (Australia) tour we have respected all our media obligations and treated media with utmost respect. At the same time, we would like to see this respect reciprocated and will not accept such behavior as displayed by the Channel 9 News reporter."
Faf du Plessis[/caption]ADELAIDE, Australia - A security official travelling with the South African team shoved an Australian television reporter against a glass door in ugly scenes as he attempted to interview captain Faf du Plessis Monday.
Du Plessis is due to face an International Cricket Council disciplinary hearing on ball tampering charges arising from the second Test against Australia in Hobart last week, and tensions with media are simmering.
Nine Network reporter Will Crouch was aggressively pulled away from the skipper as the team arrived at Adelaide airport ahead of the third and final Test this week, footage showed.
The journalist pushed back before he was shouldered away and into the door by a man Australian media said was Proteas security chief Zunaid Wadee.
Du Plessis was wearing headphones at the time of the altercation and reporters said he gave a thumbs-up to cameras moments before Wadee clashed with Crouch, who was unharmed.
Veteran batsman Hashim Amla lashed out at the reporter. "Disappointed..
such provocative behavior from reporters. Let a man walk in peace. Ask with manners n courtesy and u prob will get a response," he tweeted.
Channel Nine said Wadee also had a run-in with one of its reporters in Melbourne over the weekend as he attempted to ask Du Plessis about the tampering issue.
The Proteas skipper allegedly had a sweet, or mint, in his mouth and rubbed saliva into the ball to get more swing during the Hobart match and is facing a one-match ban.
A hearing will be held by Andy Pycroft of the ICC match referees panel. The results will be announced in due course, the ICC said in a statement Friday.
South Africa is chasing a first-ever series whitewash in Australia when they go into Thursday's pink ball Test in Adelaide.
South Africa accused Australian media of "harassment" after the incident.
Team manager Mohammed Moosajee said Australian media and Channel Nine, in particular, have been told several times that Cricket South Africa and du Plessis were not in a position to comment on the ball-tampering case.
"We have advised of our media protocol which has been blatantly ignored, both at the team's hotel on Friday and Saturday and again at the airport in Adelaide today," Moosajee said in a statement.
"The 'reporter' at the airport disrespected us and continued to harass Faf for comment. He was advised to move three times, and did not adhere to this request," he said.
"The 'reporter', who also had no official accreditation, then proceeded to lunge towards Faf with an unknown object causing a direct breach of security protocol. The reporter also shoved the team manager in the back.
"Throughout the (Australia) tour we have respected all our media obligations and treated media with utmost respect. At the same time, we would like to see this respect reciprocated and will not accept such behavior as displayed by the Channel 9 News reporter."
