MELBOURNE: Faf du Plessis has been found guilty of ball-tampering and fined his entire match fee from the second Test against Australia in Hobart but the South Africa captain has been cleared to play in this week’s third and final match of the series, starting on Thursday.

Du Plessis received the punishment following an ICC hearing in Adelaide on Tuesday, two days ahead of South Africa’s first day-night Test match at the Adelaide Oval.

The 32-year-old, standing in for injured skipper A.B. de Villiers, was charged by the ICC last Friday after footage emerged that appeared to show the Proteas skipper applying saliva to the ball while sucking on a sweet.

After hearing representations and evidence from the umpires at last week’s second Test as well as Marylebone Cricket Club head of cricket John Stephenson, ICC match referee Andy Pycroft found du Plessis guilty. The MCC remains the copyright holder to the laws of cricket.

“The decision was based on the evidence given from the umpires, who confirmed that had they seen the incident they would have taken action immediately, and from Mr Stephenson, who confirmed the view of MCC that the television footage showed an artificial substance being transferred to the ball,” the ICC said in a statement.

Three demerit points had also been added to du Plessis’ disciplinary record, the governing body added.

If a player accumulates four-to-seven demerit points within a two-year period they are converted into two suspension points, which brings a ban for one Test or two ODIs or T20s, whatever comes first.

Du Plessis, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, had previously been sanctioned for ball-tampering after a test against Pakistan in 2013.

He was then fined 50 per cent of his match fee after he was caught on camera rubbing the ball against a zip on his pocket on the third day of the match in Dubai.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2016