ICC to review involvement of Faf du Plessis in ball tampering

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is keen on reviewing footages that indicate the involvement of Faf du Plessis in ball tampering. South Africa recently thumped Australia in the Hobart Test to take an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the 3-match series. This news has come soon after. No wonder, the dressing room atmosphere might turn sour because of it. Reportedly, du Plessis was seen applying his saliva on the ball with a lolly in his mouth.

As per the rules, if in any way, the ball’s condition is being changed unnaturally during the match, the player accounted for it can be penalized. if any artificial substance is applied to the ball during the course of the match, it is termed as a breach as per the ICC rules. A footage has emerged that saw Faf du Plessis having a lolly in his mouth during the Hobart Test. Subsequently, he was seen applying his saliva on the ball using his fingers thereafter.

“The ICC has been alerted to the footage and is currently reviewing the incident from the perspective of it being a possible breach of the ICC Code of Conduct,” an ICC spokesman said in a statement.

What works in Faf du Plessis’s favor is that the match referee did not mention anything about the incident in his match report. With no mention in the report, Faf du Plessis might just get away with this after receiving a precautionary warning. This is not the first time that the South African has been charged with ball tampering allegations. During South Africa’s tour of UAE to play Tests against Pakistan, du Plessis was involved in another such incident.

It was during the 2nd Test in 2013, when he was seen rubbing the ball against the zip of his pocket. On-field umpires Ian Gould and Rod Tucker were quick to cite that. The ball was changed immediately and South Africa was penalized 5 runs for du Plessis’ misconduct. He was later fined 50 per cent of his match fees for the offense.

Also read – Faf du Plessis caught giving sticky treatment to the ball

In the match, it was the South African bowlers who ruled the roost. The Australian batting lineup had absolutely no clue about what came their way. Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abbott and Vernon Philander were all unplayable in the Hobart Test. Australia succumbed to some brilliant bowling and bundled out for a paltry 85 in the first innings. The second innings was not any great either. They lost the match by an innings.