South Africa’s Rabada cleared to play Australia in World Test Championship

South Africa’s pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada has been cleared to face Australia in the final of the World Test Championship at Lord’s next month. The 29-year-old had been under a provisional suspension since 1 April after testing positive for a recreational drug during a South African T20 match on 21 January.

The South African Institute of Drug-free Sport announced on Monday the bowler had accepted responsibility for the offence and served a one-month period of ineligibility, making him free to resume playing. Rabada may be back in action as soon as Tuesday, for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League.

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“He will take his lessons from this and we’re just looking forward to having him back part of our group, having him back in practice. He’s served his time,” said Vikram Solanki, Titans’ director of cricket.

Rabada also completed two sessions of a substance abuse treatment programme. “Moving forward, this moment will not define me,” he said when the offence was confirmed last week.

The punishment is in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s punishment for use of a recreational drug.

Rabada became the quickest player to reach 300 Test wickets in October last year and was South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in the 2023-2025 WTC cycle claiming 47 dismissals at an average of 19.97. He now has 327 Test wickets at an average of 22. In 10 Tests against Australia he has taken 49 wickets at 23 but struggled in the last series, in Australia in 2022-23, snaring 11 at 32 apiece.

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