South African fast bowler Vernon Philander has claimed his Twitter account was hacked after his tweet about the shoulder nudge between compatriot Kagiso Rabada and Australia captain Steve Smith raised a controversy.
Rabada will miss the remaining two Tests of the series between South Africa and Australia after he accumulated eight demerit points over a 24-month period following being charged for making “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact” with Steve Smith after dismissing him in the first innings of the second Test.
However, the tweet that Philander now claims was posted by a hacker and has since been deleted said that it was Smith who gave Rabada the shoulder and the Australia captain could have avoided any contact. “To me [Smith] is just as guilty,” the tweet had said.
Philander on Thursday then tweeted that he had been a victim of hackers and apologised “for all the drama and entertainment caused” by the offending tweet.
Rabada has since appealed against the ban, which was confirmed by the International Cricket Council. The governing body “will now appoint a Judicial Commissioner at the earliest opportunity and hearing details will be confirmed in due course”.
Typically, once the independent commissioner is appointed within 48 hours of receipt of a players’ notice to appeal, the hearing must be held within seven days. Cricket South Africa can argue to put Rabada’s suspension on hold while the appeal is pending and therefore allow him to play in the third Test at Newlands starting next Thursday.
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