– by Atharva ApteSouth African pacers Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of 2nd test against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham starting on 14 July following use of offensive language after dismissing Ben Stokes.
Earlier this year he had a spat with Sri Lanka”s wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella in Cape Town during Sri Lanka”s tour to South Africa last year. He is accused of using inappropriate language when Stokes was caught behind off Ramada on the first day of England vs South Africa Test at The Lord”s.
Rabada was found guilty of breaching article 2.1.7 of the Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”
“As Rabada had received a 50 percent fine and three demerit points in the fourth One-Day International against Sri Lanka in Cape Town on 8 February 2017, with the addition of this one demerit point, he has reached the threshold of four demerit points, which, pursuant to Article 7.6 of the Code, have now been converted into two suspension points,” the ICC said in a statement.
The new system of demerit points introduced by ICC came into effect last year on 22 September. Rabada who had 2 demerit points earlier after his altercation with Dickwella has gained 2 more which makes it 4. As per the system, 4 demerit points equate to 2 suspension points which result in a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first. (One test in Rabada”s case).
Since Rabada confessed his wrongdoings, there was no need for the formal hearing. England put up 458 runs in first innings of the Lord”s test and have South Africa reeling at 214/5, thereby completely dominating the proceedings on first two days.
– by Atharva Apte
