PORT ELIZABETH: South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was on Monday banned for the two remaining Tests against Australia — and admitted that he would have to change how he celebrates wickets.

Rabada was found guilty of “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact” with Australian captain Steve Smith after dismissing Smith in the first innings.

He was fined 50 per cent of his match fee and issued three demerit points after a disciplinary hearing following his denial of the charge.

That took his total of points after three previous offences to eight and triggered an automatic two-Test ban.

“It’s going to have to stop,” he said. “I’m letting the team down and letting myself down.”

Cricket South Africa (CSA) immediately announced they had 48 hours to appeal the decision and were seeking legal opinion. CSA said Rabada would remain suspended unless a judicial commissioner was appointed early and allowed him to play pending a final decision.

Match referee Jeff Crowe said: “I found that there was contact between Rabada and Smith, and in my judgement the contact by Rabada was inappropriate, and deliberate. He had the opportunity to avoid the contact, and I could not see any evidence to support the argument that the contact was accidental.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2018