Faf cops fine for dissent over umpire call, SA sweat over-rate

PROTEAS batsman Faf du Plessis was fined 15 percent of his fourth ODI fee for dissent yesterday, after his reaction to being given out on Thursday.

The South African No 3 batsman, who was coming off the back of three successive half-centuries, was given out caught behind off left-arm spinner Axar Patel, but was clearly unhappy with the decision.

He pleaded guilty to the offence, but it is not the first time on the tour that a Proteas batsman has felt hard done by. Farhaan Behardien also got a rough decision in the second ODI in Indore, which the South Africans also went on to lose.

Complicating matters is that the tourists have agreed for two Indian umpires to stand in the middle for the remainder of the one-day series, after seasoned Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar went home, due to security concerns.

All the marginal decisions – on either side – could be eradicated with the use of the Decision Review System, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India is not budging just yet.

Ironically, India have been reported complaining about the umpires, too.

They felt that too many decisions had gone against them earlier in the series, and they laid a formal complaint about Indian umpire Vineet Kulkarni.

Meanwhile, South Africa are also sweating on their notoriously slow over-rate. They were again over their designated time in Chennai, and coach Russell Domingo admitted that they were slightly concerned.

Another breach would mean a ban for captain AB de Villiers, who has been fined for the same offence within the last 12 months. – Lungani Zama