Follow UsA furious former Australia Test skipper Tim Paine lashed out at Cricket South Africa (CSA) for ‘hiding’ Kagiso Rabada’s positive drug test from the public, and accused the board of handing their talisman a ‘convenient’ suspension which will enable the fast bowler to be fully available for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia next month.
Last month, Rabada flew back home from the IPL due to personal reasons, but it was later revealed that the speedster had been found guilty of using recreational drugs and was hence handed a month-long ban.
Rabada is free now to play all forms of cricket, having served the ban, but the punishment did not go down well with Paine.
“It stinks,” Paine said on SEN Radio, reported Fox Sports.
“Taking drugs – recreational or performance enhancing – is not a personal issue that can just be hidden for a month. A guy can be taken out of the IPL, moved back to South Africa and we just let it slide under the rug. Then we will bring him back once he’s already served his ban.
“Not only will he play against Australia in the World Test Championship, but he’s available to be playing now in the IPL.
“No one knew about what he’s taken, what he was given or who the organising body was that oversaw it.
“If he is going to take drugs and be caught doing it, I think people deserve to know what he’s taken, how long he is being rubbed out for and who sanctioned it (the suspension). People need to be held to account for stuff like that.”
The news came to light only when Rabada put out a public statement weeks after the commencement of the ban.
"As has been reported, I recently returned to South Africa from participating in the IPL for personal reasons. This was due to my returning an adverse analytical finding for the use of a recreational drug,” Rabada had revealed in a statement.
“I am deeply sorry to all those that I have let down. I will never take the privilege of playing cricket for granted. This privilege is much larger than me. It goes beyond my personal aspirations. I am serving a provisional suspension and I am looking forward to returning to the game I love playing.”
The WTC final will be played from June 11-15 at Lord’s.