India vs South Africa: A day after losing the boxing day test to South Africa in the SuperSport Park in Centurian, Team India were found off-guard by the International Cricket Council (ICC) of slow over rate during the India vs South Africa 1st test. The team was found two overs short of the stipulated overs and thus sanctions were imposed on the India side.
In the statement release, the apex cricket board confirmed that Rohit Sharma-led Team India has been found a couple of overs short during the 1st test, subsequently as a penalty, ICC docked two crucial ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Points.
Furthermore, each player of the Indian side will pay 10 per cent of the match fee as a penalty for the slow over rate.
“Rohit Sharma’s side has been docked two crucial ICC World Test Championship points in the opening Test against South Africa for bowling two overs short and has also been fined 10% of their match fee,” ICC said in a release on Friday.
Notably, as per the ICC rule book which governs the penalties relating to the slow over rate. The players are fined 5 per cent of their match fee for every over they fail to deliver in the stipulated time. Team India were found two overs short, thus 10 per cent penalty was imposed.
The match officials for the India vs South Africa 1st test, on-field umpires – Paul Reiffel and Langton Rusere, third umpire Ahsan Raza and fourth umpire Stephen Harris had levelled the charges on India.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma accepted the proposed sanctions imposed by Chris Broad, Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, and hence there was no requirement for a formal hearing.
Team India’s position in ICC WTC Points Table
Notably, Team India slipped down to fifth spot following the loss against South Africa in the 1st test. However, their stay in fifth place was short-lived as Pakistan occupied that spot after they lost the test against Australia.
Team India is currently placed in the sixth place with a 38.89 winning percentage. They have bagged 14 points so far in three test outings – 2 against West Indies and one against South Africa.
With a defeat in the 1st test by an innings and 32 runs, team India’s ambitions to overcome the Protea challenge in their own homeland in the red ball cricket remains incomplete. The best India could do from here is to level the series by winning the second game in Cape Town, starting on January 03, 2024.
India has never managed to defeat South Africa in a test series held in South Africa. The closest India ever got was in 2010-11 when India levelled the three-match test series 1-1. The last time India toured South Africa for a test series, the visitors were handed a 2-1 defeat.
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