Rabada cleared to face Aussies after ban revoked

Dubai [UAE], March 20 (ANI): South Africa star speedster Kagiso Rabada has been cleared to play remainder of the four-match series against Australia after he won an appeal against his two-Test suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Rabada has not been found guilty of the charge of making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with a player following a hearing before the Right Honourable Michael Heron QC yesterday.

The 22-year-old was initially deemed guilty of a Level 2 breach of the ICC code of conduct by match referee Jeff Crowe after an altercation with Australian captain Steve Smith in the second Test at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth.

The incident happened in the 52nd over of Australia's first innings of the second Test, when moving towards the slips, Rabada made physical contact with Steve Smith, with his shoulder.

He had received a fine of 50 percent of his match fee and three demerit points after a disciplinary hearing following his denial of the charge.

However, South African advocate Dali Mpofu successfully argued at six-hour hearing that the Rabada did not deliberately make contact with Smith's shoulder during a fiery send-off.

Rabada is, however, found guilty of conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game, an offence under Article 2.1.1 of the Code. As such, Heron imposed a sanction of a fine of 25 percent of his match fee and one demerit point.

This brings Rabada's demerit points to a cumulated total of seven and he is free to play with immediate effect, thus making him entitled to play the third Test against Australia beginning at Newlands on Thursday. (ANI)