After helping South Africa to level the series in Port Elizabeth, courtesy a match-winning performance, Kagiso Rabada, the young prodigy has admitted of letting his team down.
The young, aggressive bowler, continued to take the law into his hands; as he made physical contact with Steve Smith in a rather unpleasant send-off gesture, after dismissing him.
Rabada, who already had five demerit points to his name, was charged with a level two offence by on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Kumar Dharmasena. South Africa has indicated that they will contest the charges.
Match referee Jeff Crowe heard the appeal of South African side and decided to ban Rabada for the rest of the two Test matches of the series. Rabada received a 50% fine and three demerit points for getting in contact with Steve Smith.
Making things worse for himself, Rabada picked up additional charges by ICC after a controversial send off to Australian vice-captain David Warner.
The fast bowler recorded figures of 11-150 to help South Africa win the second Test in Port Elizabeth on Monday and level the series at 1-1.
"It's going to have to stop. I can't keep doing this because I am letting the team down and I am letting myself down. I have to move forward. I have to see it as a big learning curve and not repeat the same mistake. I am not happy about it but time moves on" Rabada told reporters on Monday.
After two back to back altercations, first with Steve Smith and then with David Warner Rabada finds himself with 9 demerit points which demands an automatic two-match ban.
"There are a lot of grey areas but rules are rules. The reason why we went for a hearing (on the Smith charge) was because we believe that there's not a lot of consistency. If I knew I did it deliberately, I wouldn't have gone to contest," Rabada said.
"I didn't even feel contactin that moment because I was so pumped up. It's the same as with Lord's - I didn't try and appeal (the charge) because I knew I did it."
Rabada's absence from the rest of the Test series certainly will test the South African bowling attack especially with Dale Steyn missing from the line up as well.
