Du Plessis not backing out of `mintgate` appeal

Johannesburg [South Africa], Dec.15 (ANI): South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has firmly said he has no intention to back out of his appeal against the guilty verdict of ball-tampering case even though he risks a match ban if found guilty by the judicial commissioner. Last month, the 32-year-old was found guilty of breaching Article 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct after television footage appeared to show him chewing a white lolly in his mouth, licking his finger on the mint before repeatedly shining and rubbing the ball during the fourth day's play of the second Test against Australia in Hobart. Du Plessis insisted that he did not like the way the affair was handled and, therefore, he felt that appealing the decision would be the right thing to do. "(Withdrawing) it sounds like the logical thing to do but it's purely from a non-cricket perspective. I didn't agree with the way it was handled, how it happened and unfolded and the hearing that took place and how everything works when it comes to those hearings," Sport24 quoted Du Plessis as saying. He was fined 100 percent of his match fee by the ICC, but was cleared to play the third day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval. When the ruling was made, du Plessis had immediately made it clear his intention to appeal against his guilty verdict of ball-tampering which were made after hearing representations and evidence from the umpires as well as Marylebone Cricket Club ( MCC) head of cricket John Stephenson and ICC match referee Andy Pycroft. The hearing which is slated to be heard in Dubai on December 19 will be chaired by Michael Beloff QC in Dubai, with legal counsel of both parties attending the hearing in person and Du Plessis joining in via telephone.(ANI)