Du Plessis evades ban in ‘Mintgate’ row

MELBOURNE — Faf du Plessis has been found guilty of ball-tampering and fined his entire match fee from the second Test against Australia in Hobart but the South Africa captain has been cleared to play in this week’s third and final match of the series. Du Plessis received the punishment following a lengthy International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing in Adelaide Tuesday, two days ahead of South Africa’s first day-night Test match at the Adelaide Oval. The 32-year-old, standing in for injured regular skipper AB de Villiers, was charged by the ICC Friday after footage emerged that appeared to show the Proteas skipper applying saliva to the ball while sucking on a sweet. After hearing representations and evidence from the umpires at last week’s second Test as well as Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) head of cricket John Stephenson, ICC match referee Andy Pycroft found Du Plessis guilty. The London-based MCC remains the copyright holder to the laws of cricket. “The decision was based on the evidence given from the umpires, who confirmed that had they seen the incident they would have taken action immediately, and from Mr. Stephenson, who confirmed the view of MCC that the television footage showed an artificial substance being transferred to the ball,” the ICC said in a statement. Three demerit points had also been added to Du Plessis’ disciplinary record, the governing body added. If a player accumulates four-to-seven demerit points within a two-year period they are converted into two suspension points, which brings a ban for one Test or two One-Day Internationals or Twenty20s, whatever comes first. Du Plessis, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, had previously been sanctioned for ball-tampering after a Test against Pakistan in 2013. He was then fined 50 percent of his match fee after he was caught on camera rubbing the ball against a zip on his pocket on the third day of the match in Dubai. The Proteas have wrapped up the three-match series in Australia with a game to spare after routing the hosts by an innings and 80 runs in the Hobart test. The ball-tampering charge angered the South African camp and senior batsman Hashim Amla launched an impassioned defense of Du Plessis Friday in a public show of solidarity with the entire team standing behind him. The Proteas management complained Monday that Du Plessis had been subject to ‘harassment’ by Australian media after a TV reporter was involved in a physical confrontation with a team security guard at Adelaide Airport. Lakmal fined Sri Lanka paceman Suranga Lakmal has been fined half of his match fee for throwing the ball dangerously at Zimbabwe opener Chamu Chibhabha during their abandoned ODI in Bulawayo Monday. Lightning and heavy rain caused the game, the fourth in a triangular series also featuring West Indies, to be abandoned after 13 overs. The incident occurred during the second over of the match when Chibhabha stayed in his crease after playing a shot and was not attempting a run. “The throw missed the batsman and went to the wicketkeeper, but such a reaction from the bowler was deemed as contrary to the spirit of the game,” the International Cricket Council said in a statement Tuesday. Two demerit points have also been added to Lakmal’s disciplinary record, the governing body added.