South Africa fined 5 runs for ball tampering in 2nd Test against Pakistan

JP Duminy bowls during the third day of the 2nd Test between Pakistan and South Africa. The visitors have been fined 5 runs for ‘ball tampering’

South Africa were penalised on the third day of the ongoing 2nd Test against Pakistan in Dubai for ball tampering. According to the rules, Pakistan were awarded 5 runs as a result.

The South Africa players will attend a hearing after the end of the day’s play.

ICC confirmed the penalty on its twitter handle:

Umpires replace ball and fine South Africa five runs for ball tampering on third day in the Dubai Test #PakvSA #cricket #wtc

— ICC (@cricketicc) October 25, 2013

“As per 42.1 of the ICC playing conditions, the umpires replaced the ball and fined South Africa team five penalty runs for ball tampering,” an ICC spokesperson confirmed.

At the start of the 31st over of Pakistan’s 2nd innings, umpires Ian Gould and Rod Tucker called South African captain Graeme Smith for a talk, as Shozab Raza, the fourth umpire, brought a new box of balls from which the on-field umpires selected one to replace the damaged ball.

No individual player has been blamed yet, but TV images have reportedly found Faf du Plessis rubbing the ball against the zipper of his trouser pocket in an apparent attempt to tamper with it.

More details are expected at the close of play today. Pakistan are currently trailing by over 300 runs in their 2nd innings, after South Africa were all out for 517 in their 1st innings. Pakistan were all out for 99 in their first innings.

South Africa trail 0-1 in this 2-match series and need to win this Test to avoid a series defeat. The Proteas haven’t lost a series in the last 12 occasions. Australia were the last team to inflict a series defeat on them way back in 2008/09.