Kagiso Rabada cleared to play in third Test for South Africa against Australia
Kagiso Rabada has been cleared to play in the third Test against Australia after he was initially banned over an incident involving Steve Smith.
Judicial commissioner Michael Heron overturned Rabada’s two-match ban for making physical contact with Smith during the second Test in Port Elizabeth.
A six-hour appeal hearing via video conference lasted more than six hours on Monday. Rabada was joined by Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis and team manager Mohammed Moosajee for the hearing.
High profile South African legal advocate Dali Mpofu played a hand in having Rabada’s level 2 charge for physical contact downgraded to a level 1 charge for conduct contrary to spirit of the game.
Rabada’s punishment was lowered to a 25% match fee fine and 1 demerit point, instead of the three he had initially been given by match referee Jeff Crowe.
The downgrading means Rabada’s demerit points total dips below the threshold which brings an automatic ban.
However, the news is simple – Rabada is now allowed to play in the third Test at Newlands.
“I think in any hearing you’ve got to be as happy as you can be,” Moosajee said after the hearing.
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