Temba Bavuma on drug-ban episode

Two months ago, Kagiso Rabada was under the pump. It looked impossible for him to be ready for South Africa in the WTC Final 2025 with a doping ban looming large. Not that he tried any performance-enhancing drug to clock 150 kmph, he was in a soup for a recreational drug, cocaine. When the news broke, all hell broke loose in Australia, with former captain Tim Paine calling out the secrecy around his doping suspension. Till then, it was not confirmed which drug Rabada took. But the 30-year-old pacer could not be dishonest with his Protean teammates. He addressed everyone in the team after serving a 1-month suspension and undergoing counselling.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said that episode is now behind everyone. Instead, Bavuma believes that the taunt from Australians will be an added motivation for Rabada going into the AUS vs SA WTC Final, starting June 11.

“It is definitely a motivation. I think it’s been a couple of weeks now that everything has unfolded. He had a conversation with the team. He put himself on the spot for further questioning from any of the players. As far as we know, that’s kind of behind us. We’ve really come here with the focus on what we need to do here. And I think he’s in the best shape that he’s ever been, so definitely motivated. We also play against the Australians as well so you know that will be extra motivation for him,” Temba Bavuma said at the press conference ahead of the WTC Final 2025.

What did Tim Paine say?

Former Australia captain Tim Paine lashed out at the ICC for the lack of transparency surrounding Rabada’s doping ban. The nature of the drug was not disclosed at the onset, leading to speculations.

“It stinks. I don’t like this use around personal issues, and it is being used to hide stuff that isn’t a personal issue. If you have a professional sportsman who’s tested for recreational drugs during a tournament in which he is playing, that doesn’t fall under personal issues for me. That falls under you having broken your contract. That is not a personal issue,” Tim Paine told SEN Radio.

After completing his suspension, Kagiso Rabada returned to the IPL 2025 for Gujarat Titans. While his performances weren’t great, he has been working with former England pacer Stuart Broad ahead of the WTC Final.