South African captain Du Plessis handed one-match suspension

South African cricket team captain Faf Du Plessis has been slapped with a one-match test ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the Proteas’ slow over rate during their second test victory over Pakistan at Newlands.

The South Africans easily reached their target of 41 and comprehensively won the second test on Sunday.

Second penalty in 12 months for Du Plessis

However, this marks the second time in the past year that Du Plessis has been penalised for his country having a slow over rate. Following South Africa’s test match against India on 17 January last year, Du Plessis was fined 20% of his match fees while his teammates were all fined 10% for having a slow over rate.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement: “South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has been suspended for one Test for a second minor over rate offence within 12 months.”

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Proteas forced to ring in changes

South Africa have already won the series 2-0 following the victory on Sunday. They will likely have to make changes for the third test due to Du Plessis’s bans and with injury concerns to Aiden Markram as well as veteran Hashim Amla.

Amla was forced to retire hurt during the second innings. It now looks likely that batsman Zubayr Hamza of the Cape Cobras will be handed his debut during the third test. Spinner Keshav Maharajh could also potentially be recalled.

The South Africans, meanwhile, also need to start looking for a successor for the veteran Amla. Amla has been struggling for form during recent times and as he will be 36 years old this year, it is starting to look unlikely that he has a lot of good cricket left in him.