De Villiers receives two-match ban

Dubai, Jan 20 (IANS): South Africa captain AB de Villiers has been suspended for two ODIs while his players have been fined 100-per-cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate during their one-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the first one-dayer in Paarl Saturday.

David Boon of the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the suspension after the Proteas were ruled to be six overs short of their target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.

De Villiers accepted the proposed sanction so there was no need for a formal hearing.

In accordance with Article 2.5.2 and Appendix 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct (the “Code”), which deals with serious over-rate offences, the captain receives two suspension points while the players are fined 10-per-cent of their match fees for each of the first two overs short and 20-per-cent for every additional over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

Two suspension points in the Code equate to a suspension from one Test or two ODIs, to be applied to the subsequent International Matches in which the player sanctioned is most likely to participate in.

De Villiers has been suspended for the next two ODIs in Kimberley and Potchefstroom Tuesday and Friday while his players have been fined 100-per-cent of their match fees.

If de Villiers is found guilty of a second serious over-rate offence in an ODI over the next 12 months, he will receive a sanction of between two and eight suspension points as per the provisions of the Code.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Enamul Haque-Moni and Shaun George, third umpire Aleem Dar and fourth official Johan Cloete.