Du Plessis and Chandimal suspended for second over-rate offences

South Africa and Sri Lanka captains Faf du Plessis and Dinesh Chandimal have been suspended for one match each, while their players have been fined, after both sides maintained slow over-rates during their ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 Group 1 encounters at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) in Chittagong on Thursday.

This was both captains’ second minor over-rate offences within a 12 month period in the same format, as South Africa was fined for being two overs short against New Zealand on Monday 24 March 2014, and Sri Lanka was short by one over against New Zealand in Pallekele on 21 November 2013.

A team captain found guilty of two minor over-rate offences in the same format of the game within a period of 12 months receives a one match suspension for the immediately subsequent match in the same format of the game.Players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

As such, the captains have been fined 20 per cent each of their match fees and their players have received 10 per cent fines.

David Boon of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the suspensions and penalties after both sides were ruled to be one over short of their targets at the end of their matches against the Netherlands and England, respectively, when time allowances were taken into consideration.

Du Plessis pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanctions, so there was no need for a formal hearing. Du Plessis will miss his side’s match against England on 29 March.

Chandimal pleaded not guilty to the offence and, in accordance with the provisions of the Code, a full hearing was held on Friday, with Mr Boon appointed to adjudicate the matter.  Following the hearing, the charge and proposed penalty were upheld by Mr Boon, and Chandimal will miss Sri Lanka’s final Super 10 stage match against New Zealand on 31 March.

The charge against du Plessis was laid by on-field umpires Steve Davis and Bruce Oxenford, third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth umpire Aleem Dar, while the charge against Chandimal was laid by on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Rod Tucker, third umpire Steve Davis and fourth umpire Bruce Oxenford, all from the ICC Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires.

On Thursday, South Africa defeated the Netherlands by six runs while Sri Lanka lost to England by six wickets.