Rabada's defence advocate named for ICC appeal

High-profile South African advocate Dali Mpofu will represent Kagiso Rabada in his appeal against an ICC Level 2 code of conduct sanction handed down earlier in the week.

Mpofu, a former member of the ruling African National Congress party and a former CEO of the national broadcaster SABC, is well known for his work in dealing with significant cases such as representing miners injured by police six years ago and is understood to be one of several advocates interested in this case.

"We have appointed Advocate Mpofu to handle Kagiso's case," Thabang Moroe, CSA's Acting CEO said. "He is a highly experienced advocate who was appointed by the President to serve on the Judicial Service Commission last year."

The ICC has yet to announce a Judicial Commissioner for Rabada's appeal hearing, which must be held on or before March 23. Mpofu's first task will be to try to convince the judicial commissioner to put Rabada's two-Test suspension on hold to enable him to play the Newlands Test, which starts on March 22.

Rabada is currently on nine demerit points after picking up four demerit points in total during the Port Elizabeth Test. He is only attempting to be cleared of three of those points, picked up when he made contact with Steven Smith's shoulder when Rabada dismissed the Australian captain in the first innings. Rabada went into the fixture on five demerit points and reached the threshold of eight which equates to a two Test ban.