Dean Elgar named South African skipper in absence of Faf du Plessis
Durban, Jan 9 (IBNS): In the absence of Faf du Plessis, Cricket South Africa on Wednesday named Dean Elgar as the skipper of the Test side for the final Castle Lager Test match against Pakistan, starting at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Friday.
The selectors have also put uncapped World Sports Betting Cape Cobras opening batsman Pieter Malan on standby for Aiden Markram, who has a right thigh injury sustained while fielding in the previous Test match at PPC Newlands.
Markram will undergo a fitness test tomorrow to determine whether he can play, reported Cricket South Africa.
“The appointment of Elgar as stand-in captain is part of our strategy to develop our pool of leaders,” commented CSA National Selection Panel (NSP) convener Linda Zondi.
“We have previously used Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock in this role in ODI matches and Dean has previously captained the Proteas at Test match level against England at Lord’s in 2017.
Faf du Plessis Suspended:
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has been suspended for one Test and fined 20 per cent of his match fees, while his players have been fined 10 per cent of their match fees, for maintaining a slow over-rate during South Africa’s nine-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Cape Town Test, which ended on Sunday.
David Boon of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the suspension on du Plessis after South Africa were ruled to be one over short after time allowances were taken into consideration, read a statement issued by the ICC.
In accordance with Article 2.22.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel, which relates to minor over-rate offences, 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 du Plessis had previously been found guilty of a minor over-rate offence during the Centurion Test against India which ended on 17 January 2018, this offence constituted his second minor over-rate offence within a 12-month period.
The suspension means du Plessis will miss the third Test against Pakistan, which starts in Johannesburg on Friday, 11 January.
The charge was laid by on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Joel Wilson, and third umpire Sundaram Ravi.
Image: Cricket South Africa website
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