Rabada to appeal against ICC charge which led to two-match suspension

Kagiso Rabada was adjudged to have committed a level two breach of the code of conduct following an incident involving Steve Smith in Port Elizabeth, after the South African quick brushed shoulders with the Australian captain

^{South Africa bowler Kagiso Rabada is appealing a code of conduct breach charge}

Kagiso Rabada will appeal against the ICC charge which led to his two-match ban.

Rabada was adjudged to have committed a level two breach of the code of conduct following an incident involving Steve Smith in Port Elizabeth, after the South African quick brushed shoulders with the Australian captain.

The offence earned the seamer three demerits points, taking his total to eight over a 24-month period and incurring an automatic two-game suspension.

However, Rabada and Cricket South Africa have chosen to fight the decision.

A statement from the governing body on Wednesday read: "Kagiso Rabada will be appealing his charge. The ICC have 48 hours to appoint a Judicial Commissioner and there after a hearing will be heard within a seven-day period.

"Rabada remains suspended unless the appointed Judicial Commissioner finds enough reason/argument to allow him to play in the third Test. CSA will advise in due course who the legal team will be."

^{Rabada has been banned for two matches}

Rabada, whose recent international career has been littered with disciplinary indiscretions, moved to the top of the ICC world Test bowling rankings following his match-winning performance against Australia at St George's Park, where he claimed 11 wickets.

However, South Africa face the prospect of being without their in-form talisman for two crucial matches, with the series poised delicately at 1-1, after the controversy in Port Elizabeth.

In explaining his decision to cite Rabada with a level-two breach, match referee Jeff Crowe said that the contact between the bowler and Smith was "inappropriate and deliberate".

"He had the opportunity to avoid the contact, and I could not see any evidence to support the argument that the contact was accidental," Crowe said.

"It is also disappointing that this has happened the day after the pre-match meeting I had with both teams, where the importance of respect for opponents was highlighted.

"I take no pleasure in seeing a player suspended, particularly a young player of Kagiso’s talent, but he has now breached the ICC code of conduct on a number of occasions."