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CSA accepts outcome of Faf du Plessis appeal

[caption id="attachment_27855" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Judicial Commissioner upholds Match Referee’s earlier decision as he rejects du Plessis’s appeal. File Pic[/caption] Internet Desk: The Chair of the ICC’s Code of Conduct Commission, The Hon Michael Beloff QC has dismissed Faf du Plessis’s appeal after the South African captain was found guilty of changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 during the fourth day’s play in the second Test against Australia in Hobart. Accordingly, the original decision of ICC Match Referee, Mr Andy Pycroft, finding du Plessis guilty of a breach of Article 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct will stand. Mr Pycroft had handed a 100 per cent match fee fine, and consequently three demerit points, to du Plessis on 22 November following his hearing of the charge, which was laid by the ICC Chief Executive David Richardson. Under the provisions of the ICC Code of Conduct, Mr du Plessis was represented by legal counsel in the appeal hearing convened in Dubai on Monday that lasted 2 and a half hours, which the player himself joined via video link. Having carefully considered the legal submissions made by the player and the ICC, Mr Beloff QC confirmed that du Plessis was guilty of breaching Article 2.2.9 and that the original sanction of 100 per cent of his match fee was appropriate. ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “It is the duty of the ICC to ensure fair play on the cricket field. Although it was not picked up by the umpires at the time, when the incident came to our attention subsequently, we felt it was our responsibility to lay a charge in this case because the ICC can’t let such an obvious breach of this Law pass without taking any action. “We are pleased that both the Match Referee and Mr Beloff QC have agreed with our interpretation of the Laws and hope that this serves as a deterrent to all players not to engage in this sort of unfair practice in the future. “It goes without saying that we will be reviewing the outcome to determine if any additional guidelines are needed to provide further clarity to the players and umpires around this type of offence. However we are satisfied that the Law is clear and is implemented consistently.” Cricket South Africa (CSA) has accepted the decision of the ICC’s Independent Commissioner, Michael Beloff QC, to uphold the decision handed down last month by the ICC match referee, Andrew Pycroft, who had then found Proteas Test captain, Faf du Plessis, guilty in terms of Article 2.2.9 of the ICC’s Code of Conduct. “We are satisfied with the matter being given due consideration by a person independent of the ICC. Both CSA and Faf believed that this appeal was imperative considering the important principles at stake. “In our view, the fact that Mr Beloff deliberated for some time after hearing complex legal arguments from both sides demonstrates that this matter does indeed require further consideration and clarification from the ICC and the MCC. “Notwithstanding the outcome of the appeal and Mr Beloff’s helpful rulings on the matter, we hope that further reviews of the Code of Conduct and the laws of the game takes place as players will no doubt continue to seek clarification as to what is or is not permissible in the light of this case,” commented CSA Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.