Calcutta: South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has been charged with ball tampering during the second Test against Australia in Hobart, the ICC said on Friday.
According to ICC, Du Plessis has breached Article 2.2.9 of its code of conduct after television footage appeared to show him applying an artificial substance to the ball during the fourth day's play in Hobart, which concluded on Tuesday. "The charge relates to changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 and has been laid by the ICC chief executive David Richardson who has exercised his right to do so according to Article 3.1.3 of the code," said an ICC release.
Du Plessis, though, has pleaded not guilty to the charge and as such the matter will now be heard by Andy Pycroft of the elite panel of ICC match referees.
The alleged incident happened on Tuesday morning of the second Test when TV footage appeared to show the South Africa captain applying saliva and residue from a mint or sweet - an artificial substance - to the ball in an attempt to change its condition.
All level 2 breaches carry an imposition of a fine between 50 per cent to 100 per cent of the applicable match fee and/or up to two suspension points, and three or four demerit points.
South Africa, however, consider the ball-tampering allegations against Du Plessis to be "ridiculous" and "a joke", and believe their skipper has done absolutely nothing wrong. That was the message from the team's senior-most batsman Hashim Amla, who spoke to reporters at the MCG on Friday afternoon, accompanied by the entire South African squad and support staff who were present to "show solidarity," said a cricket-specific website.
Du Plessis was among the group but stood in the background and was not put up to answer any questions. "The reason everybody is here is to stand together and show solidarity to what has been something we actually thought was a joke. It's not April.
"But the allegations against Faf were really, for us, a ridiculous thing and as a team we are standing strong. For us, it is basically a joke. The boys are here, standing strong," the website quoted Amla as saying.
At the time, Amla was not aware that the ICC was reviewing footage of Du Plessis shining the ball after licking his fingers when there appeared to be a sweet in his mouth. "Is it?" Amla asked when told about the governing body's investigation. "Whether it is or not, we've done nothing wrong and Faf has done absolutely nothing wrong."
Amla went as far as to say the reaction to the footage could be an attempt to discredit South Africa's dominance in the series. "To me and to a lot of people, it is sounding like sour sweets for people in their heads that we've played really good cricket and the timing of it is that it's a bit weird too," he fumed.
A part of South Africa's defence is that players often have something in their mouths on the field. "I chew bubblegum while I am fielding. Do you want me to brush my teeth after lunch every time I come out?" Amla asked.
