Suspension threat hangs over AB
WITH ALL the injuries floating about the South African team and the indecision regarding the No 7 role, there certainly is more than enough for Proteas coach Russell Domingo and captain AB de Villiers,
to chew on at this World Cup. And if that is not enough on an already overflowing plate, there is the real concern that if South Africa continue with their sloppy habit of delivering their overs slowly and not being able to complete the allotted 50 in the prescribed time then De Villiers could be receive an immediate one-match suspension.
The skipper already has one warning and 20 percent less of his match fee in his back pocket after the defeat to India last Sunday at the MCG. The ramifications from this is potentially catastrophic as should De Villiers receive another warning today against the West Indies here at the SCG then he would be forced miss the next match against Ireland in Canberra on Tuesday.
The Proteas are acutely aware of the situation with T20 captain Faf du Plessis, who sat out a crucial round-robin game due to slow over rate in the World T20 last year, was adamant that “under no circumstances can AB ever miss a game in the World Cup. That’s just non-negotiable. We are as a team guilty of it with our over-rate”.
Du Plessis though had no quick-fix solution to the problem and even half-jokingly asked the media if “you have solutions, please let us know”.
In the past there have been loopholes to exploit in the system with Sri Lanka using the street-wise tactics of changing their captain for every round-robin game to avoid suspension during the World T20.
The ICC have since clamped down on such skulduggery with De Villiers admitting that he has enquired about adopting similar tactics to keep him from being suspended.
“I actually asked the umpires about it but I’m the nominated captain for the tournament so I still get banned,” De Villiers said. “We’ve spoken about (overrates) at length. I think all the captains are under pressure in this tournament.
“They’re (the ICC) very strict with that in this particular tournament you get one warning and then you’re suspended. They’re a little bit more lenient with normal cricket series around the world, which is understandable. This tournament is under the spotlights and it heats you up the right way. So I’m under pressure.
“We’ve had a good discussion about it. There is nothing else you can do about it except just get it right. It’s one of those things you’ve just got to get the intensity for 50 overs, which is not easy. It’s easier said than done, believe me.”
With South Africa’s attack dominated by pacemen with lengthy run-ups, De Villiers is always going to be touch-and-go with the authorities in terms of not meeting the 14.28 overs per hour requirements. The skipper though backed his three seamers and denied they were solely to blame for the guillotine hovering over his head.
“The seamers need time. They need time to get the marks and get the fields right,” De Villiers said. “And those longer run-ups they get tired. So it’s understandable for a seamer to waste a bit more time.”