Home » Cricket SA Claims Reporter ‘Lunged’ at Faf du Plessis in Adelaide Airport Scuffle

Cricket SA Claims Reporter ‘Lunged’ at Faf du Plessis in Adelaide Airport Scuffle

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has responded to calls by Australian media for a security guard travelling with the Proteas to be “sent home”, after he “aggressively manhandled” an Aussie news reporter in Adelaide (watch video below). CSA says the reporter “lunged” at Captain Faf du Plessis. The clash between the reporter and head of Proteas’ security – named in reports […]

By SAPeople
22-11-16 01:23
in Eish!

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has responded to calls by Australian media for a security guard travelling with the Proteas to be “sent home”, after he “aggressively manhandled” an Aussie news reporter in Adelaide (watch video below). CSA says the reporter “lunged” at Captain Faf du Plessis.

The clash between the reporter and head of Proteas’ security – named in reports as Will Crouch and Zunaid Wadee respectively – included a moment in which Crouch appears to be “shoved” into a glass door at Adelaide Airport.

Protea’s boss Dr Mohammed Moosajee said in a statement: “The Australian media and Channel 9 News in particular have been advised on numerous occasions over the past few days that Cricket South Africa (CSA) and captain, Faf du Plessis, are not in a position to comment on the alleged ball tampering issue.

“However, despite our best intentions to co-operate with the Australian media, Channel 9 News’ behaviour has been disappointing.

“We have advised of our media protocol which has been blatantly ignored, both at the team’s hotel in Melbourne on Friday and Saturday and again at the airport in Adelaide today.

“This is the third incident of a reporter aggressively harassing our players with blatant disrespect of the above-mentioned media protocol.

“The ‘reporter’ at the airport disrespected us and continued to harass Faf for comment. The ‘reporter’ was also in the unusual position of being in the middle of the players’ walkway to the bus.

“He was advised to move three times, and did not adhere to this request. The ‘reporter’, who also had no official accreditation, then proceeded to lunge towards Faf with an unknown object causing a direct breach of security protocol. The reporter also shoved the team manager in the back.

“Throughout the tour we have respected all our media obligations and treated media with the utmost respect. At the same time, we would like to see this respect reciprocated and will not accept such behaviour as displayed by the Channel 9 News reporter.”

The hearing will take place on Tuesday afternoon in Adelaide. In the interests of expediency and in order to protect the integrity of the Adelaide Test, the hearing will take place on Tuesday, 22 November 2016, at 15h30 pm (Adelaide time) at the Adelaide Oval.

Watch Airport Scuffle – Cricket SA claims reporter “lunged” at du Plessis:

https://youtu.be/TpD9039pSX8

Or watch this take on the South African team security clash news:

In this version you can hear the South African security guard asking the reporter to “get out of the way buddy”…

https://youtu.be/G9HnfzF1YaM

Du Plessis has been charged for breaching Article 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct after television footage appeared to show him applying an artificial substance (spit from a mint) to the ball during the fourth day’s play in the second Test against Australia in Hobart.

Sources include Cricket.co.za