'Penalties needs to be harsher for ball tampering'

'I have probably said it too much but there are too many grey areas when it comes to the ICC and the rules.'

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis called for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to dish out tougher punishments for players found guilty of ball tampering.

"I know they (ICC) met a while ago but it doesn't look like anything has changed. It's still the same rules and stuff, so they need to change that," Du Plessis, who has twice been found guilty of ball tampering, told reporters ahead of South Africa's tour of Sri Lanka.

"The penalties needs to be harsher for ball tampering."

Ball tampering incidents have rocked the sport this year, prompting the ICC to contemplate stricter punishments after admitting that fines are not enough to serve as a deterrent.

"I have probably said it too much but there are too many grey areas when it comes to the ICC and the rules," the 33-year-old right handed batsman added.

"One, you want clarity and, two, you want consistency and that's definitely something that's not been part of that body of laws for a while now."