Hackers accused over rant
VERNON Philander has claimed “hackers” were to blame for an explosive latenight rant that has thrown fresh petrol on Kagiso Rabada’s bid to escape suspension for the third Test.
As South Africa braces for its all or nothing hearing in front of an International Cricket Council judicial commissioner in the next few days, the home side is powerless to change a perception that it’s a team in denial that just seems to appeal against everything.
Philander, or someone purporting to be Philander, has made South Africa’s mission to earn Rabada a reprieve even more impossible.
Rabada’s fast bowling stablemate, or an imposter who had control of his phone, took to Twitter just after midnight local time to accuse Steve Smith of being the villain in the shoulder bump send-off that has the world’s No.1 bowler staring down the barrel of a two-match ban.
“Haven’t really seen the fotage [sic] of this incident but by the looks of this … Steve Smith gave KG the shoulder,” Philander tweeted. “He could have avoided any contact but to me he is just as guilty.
“Trying some football skills to get a penalty??? Pity he didn’t dive to top it off.”
Philander, who is back in his home town of Cape Town and has nine days to kill before the next Test, woke the next morning and deleted the offending tweet before swearing to followers he’d been done over by a well informed, and reasonably moderate hacker by internet standards:
“Good morning all my tweeps. Waking up this morning to alot of twitter craziness as my acc got hacked and someone posted a nice little article on my behalf. Sorry for all the drama or entertainment caused by the looks of it. Have a great day all.”
The sideshow doesn’t help the already fragile legal claims of South African cricket, which must already overcome the fact Rabada and captain Faf du Plessis virtually admitted at a press conference that Rabada needed to be “smarter”.
They’ve also conceded they are about a “zero” chance of winning their appeal.
Match referee Jeff Crowe laid the charges against Rabada and is one of the ICC’s most respected figures. The yet to be appointed judicial commissioner would effectively have to embarrass and discredit Crowe to get Rabada off.