Port Elizabeth: Dr. Mpho Rabada has supported the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to penalize his son for Shikhar Dhawan send-off.
The 22-year-old South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has been fined 15 per cent of his match-fees (and one demerit point) for giving Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan a send-off after he grabbed his wicket in the fifth ODI, which India won in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.
"Dhawan send-off was unnecessary. The player has not only to be within the law but live in the spirit of the game which is a higher than the minimum standard,” said Rabada senior.
"The management used criterion to usher fines and we have to give them the benefit of doubts that they applied their minds and found a sanction that is in line with not living in the spirit of the game. I have faith in the administrators. Players say all kind of things. I am 100% against that. Let us let the ball do the talking," he added.
Dhawan was looking in fine form as he scored at brisk pace against Morne Morkel and Rabada and had hit the young South African speedster for a four a ball before. However, Rabada managed to dismiss the Dhawan just when it looked like the Indian opener was going to take the South African attack to the cleaners.
"(My son's) action was unnecessary and uncalled for (even if there were words or actions from batsmen directed to him during play). A person is 100 per cent responsible for his own actions. The ultimate bar at the end is ALL has to be done in the greater spirit of the game,” said Kagiso’s father.
"Young men and women have to always judge themselves against that threshold both on and off the field,” he signed off.
