Cape Town - After starring in the Proteas win over Australia in the second Test at Port Elizabeth, where he picked up 11 wickets and was named man of the match, Kagiso Rabada received the news he certainly didn't want to hear.

SUSPENDED - ICC hit Rabada with series ban

The International Cricket Council's (ICC) Jeff Crowe, the match referee in this fiercely contested series, had deemed that Rabada was guilty of a Level 2 ICC Code of Conduct offence of 'inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with a player'.

This was thanks to the incident in which the fiery fast bowler had brushed Steve Smith's shoulder after dismissing him in the first innings of the Test match.

Not only was Rabada fined 50 percent of his match fee, he also received three demerit points.

This meant that he accumulated nine demerit points within a 24-month period which automatically led to the two-match suspension.

Rabada and Cricket South Africa have 48 hours in which they can decide to appeal the ICC decision.

They are currently seeking legal council on the way forward.

The third Test between South Africa and Australia gets under way on Thursday, March 22 at Newlands.