ICC Reserves Judgement On Faf du Plessis's Ball Tempering Appeal 1

The hearing of South Africa’s skipper Faf du Plessis’s appeal against the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) verdict of charging him 100 per cent of his match fee during the Hobart Test last month has been concluded with prosecutor Michael Beloff reserving the judgement.

In a tweet released by the ICC, the apex body stated the verdict of the hearing will be released soon.

The hearing, held in Dubai on December 18, was attended by legal counsel of both parties while the Proteas star joined in via telephone.

The right-handed batsman was fined 100% of his match fee, as well as three demerit points after being found guilty of applying an artificial substance on the ball. Du Plessis was caught shining the ball with a lolly in his mouth. The clip showed du Plessis repeatedly licking his finger before vigorously rubbing the ball.

However, the South African has pleaded innocence and had said that he would not hesitate in appealing against the match referee’s decision.

“It sounds like the logical thing to do, but purely from a non-cricket point of view, I didn’t agree with how it happened and unfolded, and even how the hearing took place and how everything works when it comes to a hearing,” he said during a media event in Cape Town last week.

“Even if it meant the decision came out the way that I didn’t want it to, for me it’s about standing up to  a principle which you don’t agree with, and that’s what a captain is all about – making sure you stand your ground and fight for whatever the cause is,” he added.

Meanwhile, the newly-appointed South Africa Test captain might face a harsh punishment as the ICC has previously stated their judicial commissioner has the right to increase the player’s sanction if found guilty. In that case, he might miss the first Test starting in Port Elizabeth on December 26.