David Boon of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the suspension on du Plessis after South Africa were ruled to be one over short after time allowances were taken into consideration.
In accordance with Article 2.22.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel, which relates to minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 percent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.
As du Plessis had previously been found guilty of a minor over-rate offence during the Centurion Test against India which ended on 17 January 2018, this offence constituted his second minor over-rate offence within a 12-month period.
The suspension means du Plessis will miss the third Test against Pakistan, which starts in Johannesburg on Friday, 11 January. The charge was laid by on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Joel Wilson, and third umpire Sundaram Ravi.
Du Plessis’ century propels Proteas
South Africa will miss their skipper now in the last Test as they will aim for a whitewash in the three-match Test series. More than anything, his rock-solid batting effort at the Newlands will be missed. Faf du Plessis had scored a scintillating and fighting century in the first innings which eventually helped the Proteas bat Pakistan out of the game.
He himself will be disappointed now after being suspended and it will be interesting to see who will lead the side in his absence in the last Test.
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