Table of Contents
Former Australian Test captain, Tim Paine, has criticized the secrecy surrounding South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who has been provisionally suspended from playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Rabada, a key figure in South Africa’s bowling attack, recently revealed that his abrupt departure from the IPL in April was due to a positive drug test conducted during the SA20 league in January. Paine’s outspoken remarks have sparked debate about transparency and accountability in cricket’s anti-doping protocols.
Kagiso Rabada apolozises to fans for letting them down
Rabada, who was representing Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2025, left the tournament mid-way after playing just two matches, citing “personal reasons.” On Saturday, he issued a statement through the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) confirming he was serving a provisional suspension after testing positive for an unspecified recreational drug. He expressed remorse, apologized to fans and said the incident would not define his career.
“I am deeply sorry to all those that I have let down. I will never take the privilege of playing cricket for granted. This privilege is much larger than me. It goes beyond my personal aspirations. Moving forward, this moment will not define me. I will keep doing what I have always done, continuously working hard and playing with passion and devotion to my craft,” Rabada said.
Also WATCH: Preity Zinta goes wow as Shashank Singh sends ball out of Dharamsala stadium – IPL 2025, PBKS vs LSG
Tim Pain questions secrecy around Rabada’s drug ban
Paine has expressed strong criticism over the handling of Rabada’s provisional suspension, questioning the decision to label it a “personal issue.” Paine argued that testing positive for recreational drugs during an active tournament should be treated as a professional breach rather than a private matter. He pointed out that removing a player from the IPL, quietly sending him back home, and then potentially reintroducing him after serving a ban without public accountability sets a troubling precedent. According to Paine, such cases should not be swept under the rug, as they involve contractual and professional responsibilities.
Speaking on Radio breakfast show, Paine said: “It stinks. I don’t like this use around personal issues, and it 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 have broken your contract. That is not a personal issue, that is something that is happening in your personal life. Taking drugs for recreational or performance enhancing is not a personal issue that can just be hidden for a month. A guy can be taken out the IPL, moved back to South Africa and we just let it slide under the rug. Then we will bring him back once he’s already served his ban.”
Meanwhile, South Africa is set to face Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s next month. Paine’s concerns about the recent drug episode may be linked to Rabada’s potential return for that high-stakes match.
Also READ: India and Australia dominate the ICC Annual Rankings 2025
