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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Pakistan cricket captain Sarfraz Ahmed was banned for four games on Sunday for a racist on-field taunt aimed at South Africa allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo and will miss the rest of the one-day series and the first two Twenty20 games.
The International Cricket Council said Sarfraz was guilty of a breach of the sport's anti-racism code for his comments while Phehlukwayo, who is black, was batting in the second ODI in Durban on Tuesday. The ICC charged Sarfraz with the offense on Saturday and said Safraz accepted the charge.
Sarfraz, the Pakistan wicketkeeper, was heard on a stump microphone saying in the Urdu language: "Hey black man, where is your mother sitting today? What (prayer) have you got her to say for you today?"
Sarfraz claimed his comments were a general expression of frustration that Phehlukwayo had got lucky while batting and survived a couple of near-misses. He made a public apology and also apologized in person to Phehlukwayo.
The ICC still found him guilty.
"The ICC has a zero-tolerance policy towards conduct of this nature," ICC chief executive David Richardson said. Richard said Sarfraz had "promptly admitted the offence, was regretful of his actions and has issued a public apology."
Shoaib Malik captained Pakistan for the fourth one-day international in Johannesburg on Sunday in Sarfraz's place. Shoaib won the toss and opted to bowl first. He declined to comment on Sarfraz's ban.
Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan made his first appearance of the series in place of Sarfraz. Pakistan also brought in left-arm seam bowler Usman Shinwari in its only other change.
South Africa made one change, rotating its spinners by recalling Imran Tahir for Tabraiz Shamsi.
South Africa leads 2-1 in the ODIs and can clinch the series at the Wanderers.
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Lineups:
South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis (captain), David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Beuran Hendricks, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir.
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan, Shoaib Malik (captain), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Usman Shinwari, Shaheen Afridi.
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