Proteas stand-in skipper Faf du Plessis has been charged by the International Cricket Council with a level-2 offence for ball-tampering.

Du Plessis has pleaded not guilty and is seeking legal advice to contest the charge.

The ICC confirmed in a statement on Friday that he may have breached article 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct, ‘after television footage appeared to show him applying an artificial substance to the ball during the fourth day’s play in the second Test in Hobart’.

The statement said: ‘The incident happened on Tuesday morning when TV footage appeared to show Du Plessis applying saliva and residue from a mint or sweet, an artificial substance, to the ball in an attempt to change its condition.’

Level-2 breaches of the Code of Conduct carry a penalty of a fine of 50-100% of the match fee and/or up to two suspension points, and three or four demerit points.

Two suspension points amount to a one-Test ban, but it remains to be seen whether or not that affects his participation in next week’s day-night match in Adelaide.

The charge has been laid by ICC chief executive David Richardson. The matter will be heard by match referee Andy Pycroft.

This isn’t the first time Du Plessis has been in hot water for ball tampering. He was fined 50% of his match fee back in October 2013 for rubbing the ball on a trouser zip during a Test against Pakistan.