The Cape Cobras’ woes deepened when their captain, Omphile Ramela, was banned for using obscene language on the field.

Wracked by an unseemly dispute between head coach Paul Adams and senior players, and having failed to register a win in their first four games, the Cobras have enough problems.

Now their captain has been banned for two Sunfoil Series matches, but he may miss only the contest against the Dolphins at Boland Park which starts on Thursday. The suspension from the second game has been suspended for a year.

A terse note from Cricket South Africa did not say where or when the incident occurred, but merely that Ramela ‘had been found guilty of Clause 6.3.1 (f) of the CSA Code of Conduct and has been suspended for two Sunfoil Series four-day matches.’

Clause 6.3.1 (f) relates to using language that is ‘seriously obscene, offensive or insulting towards another participant or a spectator’.

It apparently relates to the match against the Knights on October 11, after teammate Zubayr Hamza was given out ‘handled the ball’.

The CSA Disciplinary Commissioner, Professor Rian Cloete, said: ‘I have taken into account the fact that Mr Ramela admitted the offence and has accepted that his behaviour was inappropriate.

‘It is important that an effective penalty be imposed and that it is fundamentally important for disciplinary action to correct behaviour.’

Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix