AB de Villiers is on the verge of being suspended during the Cricket World Cup after South Africa were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate in the 130-run loss to India yesterday.

The Proteas were ruled to be behind by one over by ICC Match Referee Jeff Crowe after time allowances were taken into consideration.

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Each member of the playing XI was fined 10 per cent of their match fee, while de Villiers received a 20 per cent fine as captain.

If South Africa are fined a second time before the final, de Villiers will receive a one-match suspension.

The ICC’s No.1 ranked ODI batsman, de Villiers would be a monumental loss for the Proteas who are bidding to win their first World Cup.

The Proteas skipper has made a slow start to the competition, scoring 25 and 30 in his first two games, but in the last 12 months he has been in imperious form, scoring 1005 ODI runs at 69.58 with three centuries.

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De Villiers entered the World Cup with a minor over-rate offence he accrued in the first Carlton Mid ODI against Australia in Perth in November, but like all players had his slate wiped clean for the tournament.

But that doesn’t mean the 31-year-old gets off scot free; because he has now been fined twice for slow over rates within 12 months, de Villiers will be suspended for South Africa’s next ODI, against Bangladesh in Mirpur, provided he doesn’t incur another over-rate offence in the World Cup.