South Africa were dealt a major blow when skipper Faf du Plessis was suspended for the third Test because of his team’s slow over rate against Pakistan in Cape Town.
The move could place added pressure on a limping Proteas batting order.
The team will also now need a new captain for the third Test starting at the Wanderers on Friday. Both Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla have captaincy experience but they each ended the Test nursing injuries.
The ICC announced the punishment after SA won the second Test by nine wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the threematch series. Du Plessis and his players were also fined a percentage of their match fees.
SA picked an all-pace attack for the match.
Their four bowlers shared just under 122 overs as they twice bowled Pakistan out. Half an hour was added to play on the first three days because of the slow over rate.
After the three umpires charged the home team, match referee David Boon ruled SA were one over short of the minimum target.
Under ICC rules, players are fined 10% of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double.
Du Plessis was found guilty of what the ICC deemed a “minor over-rate offence” against India at Centurion on January 17 2018, so “this offence constituted his second minor overrate offence within 12 months”.
Du Plessis scored 106 in SA’s first innings at Newlands.
Having recorded a seventh straight series win on home soil, he at least had some reason to smile. His team completed a ninewicket win to take a two-nil lead in the three-Test series.
“I’m happy that we are dominating teams at the moment‚” Du Plessis said.
He was especially pleased as his side had made a conscious decision not to drop Test matches at home.
“Not too long ago we were No7 in the world and losing a few series and not playing the way we liked.
“The first thing we said was that we need to win home series. We need to take care of them and play well and consistently.”
They have been reasonably consistent overall since Ottis Gibson took over as coach. They have won 10 of the 14 series they have been involved in under the Barbadian.
“It is as tough to go abroad for us as it is for Pakistan to come here‚” Du Plessis said.
“That’s why in a home series this needs to be a fortress. We take pride in that.
“We are a team that focus on being mentally tough.
“I feel that is the area where things can go your way or not go your way. It is about fronting up to the challenge in front of you. To be mentally ready to go whatever happens.
“We want to be the stronger team mentally.”
On Sunday‚ South Africa won the second Test just 47 minutes into the fourth day when Dean Elgar hit a rank long-hop down the leg side for four. Although the winning target was small‚ Theunis de Bruyn found another way of getting out.
Promoted up the order after Markram bruised a thigh on the third day‚ De Bruyn clipped a four through mid-wicket but soon afterwards Mohammad Abbas dropped one short, triggering the De Bruyn hook.
The under-the-cosh batsman succeeded only in getting a gentle top edge, which wicket-keeper Safraz Ahmed grabbed gleefully.
Short of big runs, Amla also found a way of not staying the course. He was struck on the right bicep trying to get out of the way of a Mohammad Amir delivery.
After being treated on the field, Amla left for the dressing room for more intensive treatment.
Elgar and Du Plessis‚ however‚ saw the team home.–Additional reporting by Liam del Carme