Faf du Plessis says he has been made a scapegoat by the ICC
Wednesday 23 November 2016 10:15, UK
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis insists he is not a cheat and believes the ICC has opened a "can of worms" in finding him guilty of ball-tampering.
Du Plessis was was fined his match fee on Tuesday after being caught on camera sucking a mint and rubbing saliva into the ball during last week's second Test win over Australia in Hobart.
The 32-year-old, who was sanctioned for the same offence in 2013, has avoided a ban for the final Test in Adelaide, but he believes he has been made a scapegoat by the game's governing body.
"I just think it's opened up a can of worms with what's going to happen now going forward with the game," said Du Plessis. "Something like this needed to happen to create a bit more awareness around it.
"I felt like I've done nothing wrong. It's not like I was trying to cheat or anything, I was shining the ball.
"It's something that all cricketers do. Our mouths are always full of sugar, I think it's such a grey area in the laws of cricket.
"Obviously the ICC has taken a stance against me, to use me as a scapegoat now. But all I can ask for is that everyone gets treated the same."
Australia skipper Steve Smith offered his support to Du Plessis, adding: "I think every team around the world shines the cricket ball.
"I've seen Faf's comments and look, from my point of view, and I make it very clear, that we haven't come out and said anything about Faf or about how he was shining the ball or anything like that.
"We, along with every other team around the world, shine the ball the same way."
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