Tahir available for T20s despite suspension

Imran Tahir remains available for the T20 internationals against West Indies after a disciplinary panel ruled it could only hand down a domestic suspension for his show of "serious dissent" in a four-day match last month.

The incident occurred during the match between Dolphins and Warriors in Pietermaritzburg and he was charged with a Level Two offence after being upset with being removed from the attack for running on the pitch and confronted the umpires.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and did not attend the hearing. Officially he is suspended for the four-day match against Warriors from January 8, but that is rendered largely irrelevant by his presence in the T20 squad to face West Indies with the series starting on January 9 in Cape Town.

Rian Cloete, the Cricket South Africa disciplinary commissioner, said: "I find Mr Tahir guilty of a breach of clause 6.3.1 (a) of the Code of Conduct in that he showed serious dissent at an umpire's decision.

"After careful consideration of the facts and the concerns raised, it is held that this disciplinary body has no authority to suspend Mr Tahir from playing in the upcoming T20 international matches against West India on the January 9 and 11 2015, and I am satisfied that the appropriate penalty in respect of this offence, which is a level 2 offence, is a suspension for one four-day match.

"Accordingly the following order is made: Mr Tahir is ineligible for selection for the forthcoming Sunfoil Series Match against the Warriors due to be played from January 8-11 in East London."

Tahir was dropped for the final Test against West Indies at Newlands following an expensive display in Port Elizabeth although he did eventually claim three wickets. The success of Simon Harmer on debut, as the offspinner took 7 for 153 in the match, means his Test future is uncertain although South Africa do not play the format again until touring Bangladesh in July.