Du Plessis 'mintgate' hearing to take place today in Adelaide

Dubai [UAE], Nov. 22 (ANI): The International Cricket Council (ICC) will today conduct the hearing at the Adelaide Oval in connection with the 'mintgate' incident involving South Africa stand-in skipper Faf du Plessis "in the interests of expediency and in order to protect the integrity of the Adelaide Test." The hearing will be conducted by ICC match referee Andy Pycroft and will take place at 15:30 Adelaide Time (10:30 a.m. India time). In a media release, the ICC stated, "Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees held a preliminary hearing on Monday and heard the submissions of the parties as regards when the hearing in relation to the charge laid against South Africa captain Faf du Plessis should take place." Du Plessis has been charged for breaching Article 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct after television footage appeared to show him applying an artificial substance to the ball during the fourth day's play in the second Test against Australia in Hobart. All level 2 breaches carry an imposition of a fine between 50 percent to 100 percent of the applicable match fee and/or up to two suspension points, and three or four demerit points. Two suspension points equates to one Test match. The charge has been laid by the ICC Chief Executive David Richardson who has exercised his right to do so according to Article 3.1.3 of the Code. It should be noted that this is not the first time that the 32-year-old batsman has been caught doing something with the ball. In 2013, he was fined 50 percent of the match fee during the second Test against Pakistan for rubbing the ball with his trouser zipper. (ANI)