Du Plessis has 48 hours to appeal against the verdict

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

South Africa stand-in captain Faf du Plessis has been fined 100 per cent of his match fee, but has been given the green light to play in the third Test against Australia in Adelaide after a hearing took place in regards to the incident that has become known as Mintgate or Lollygate.

Du Plessis will be docked his entire match fee from the second Test against the Baggy Greens in Hobart, which South Africa won by an innings and 80 runs, as he was found guilty of breaching clause 2.2.9 of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Code of Conduct, which relates to “changing the condition of the ball”.

After being alerted to the footage of Du Plessis licking his fingers with a mint in his mouth before repeatedly shining and rubbing the ball, the ICC reviewed the evidence that the interim Proteas skipper had tampered with the ball and concluded that “TV footage appeared to show du Plessis applying saliva and residue from a mint or sweet, an artificial substance, to the ball in an attempt to change its condition”.

“The decision was based on the evidence given from the umpires, who confirmed that had they seen the incident they would have taken action immediately, and from Mr Stephenson [MCC head of cricket John Stephenson], who confirmed the view of MCC that the television footage showed an artificial substance being transferred to the ball,” an ICC statement on Tuesday evening said.

In addition to being fined, Du Plessis was also handed three demerit points. Should he accumulate four or more demerit points in a two-year period, they will be converted into suspension points and he would likely be banned as a result of it.

Du Plessis now has 48 hours to appeal the verdict, but should he do so, he risks being hit with a harsher punishment as he could be given two suspension points, which would result in him being banned for one Test match.