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South African Kagiso Rabada's ban lifted by ICC, pacer all set to play third Test against Australia

The decision was taken by ICC judicial commissioner Michael Heron of New Zealand after a hearing on Monday that lasted over five hours.

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South African paceman Kagiso Rabada will be allowed to play international cricket with immediate effect, declared the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday.

The decision was taken by judicial commissioner Michael Heron of New Zealand after a hearing on Monday that lasted over five hours.

Rabada, however, has been found guilty of conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game, an offence under Article 2.1.1 of the Code. Heron imposed a sanction of a fine of 25% of his match fee and one demerit point. This brings the player’s demerit points to a cumulated total of 7 and he is free to play with immediate effect.

 

“The key issue is whether Mr Rabada made ‘inappropriate and deliberate physical contact’ with Mr Smith (Australian captain Steve 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," said Heron.

“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.”

 

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson added: "The ICC wholly accepts today’s decision and I would like to thank Mr. Heron for overseeing the hearing in a short time frame before the next Test starts in South Africa.

“This is perhaps an opportune moment to remind all players of their responsibilities to maintaining a standard of behaviour which sets a good example to players at all levels of the game, especially the young players. We want to see the game played with skill, passion and respect for the opposition, the match officials and the laws.”

The third Test between South Africa and Australia starts on Thursday. The series is currently 1-1.

 

Rabada, who has been highly influential in the two Tests so far, was given the ban for making physical contact with Australian captain Steve Smith during the second Test in Port Elizabeth. Rabada's brush with Smith led to him being given three demerit points which took him to the eight-point threshold that triggers an automatic two-Test ban.

South African captain Faf du Plessis attended the early part of the meeting before leaving to join the team but team manager Mohammed Moosajee and advocate Dali Mpofu remained with Rabada.

Australia's tour has been marred by altercations on and off the field. In the first Test, the visitors' vice-captain David Warner was involved in an altercation with South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock in a stairwell.

Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee said that while he did not want to see behaviour "crossing the line", emotion and aggression were part of the game. "In all honesty... we don't want robots on the field," Lee said.

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