South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has had his two-test ban overturned on appeal and will be available for the remainder of the series against Australia. Test cricket's No. 1-ranked bowler was initially banned for the third and fourth Tests after being found guilty of two charges of misconduct for aggressive wicket celebrations in the second Test in Port Elizabeth.
Rabada's first offence, of intentionally bumping into Australia captain Steve Smith after dismissing him in the first innings, earned him three demerit points and took him over a disciplinary threshold. That led to an automatic two-Test ban.
Michael Heron, who heard the appeal, said he couldn't be "comfortably satisfied" that Rabada intended to make contact with Smith and found him not guilty of the charge under the International Cricket Council's code of conduct.
Heron instead found the 22-year-old Rabada guilty of a lower-level offence and issued him with a one demerit point penalty and 25 percent of his match fee.
"I consider the conduct was inappropriate, lacked respect for his fellow player and involved non-deliberate and minor contact," Heron said in a statement Tuesday. "The actions contravened the principle that a dismissed batsman should be left alone."
Rabada was voted player of the match after taking 11 wickets series-levelling win in South Africa at Port Elizabeth and his availability for the third test in Cape Town starting Thursday is a boost for the hosts.
(With AP Inputs)
