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Ganguly suspended for two Test matches
 Kolkata, Nov 14: Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly was suspended for two Test matches by the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Clive Lloyd who found him guilty of slow over rate in Saturday's BCCI platinum jubilee one-day match against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens here. The suspension was announced after a hearing by Lloyd at a city hotel here today. The suspension means that Ganguly, who has been selected to lead the Indian team against South Africa, will not play in the two Test matches.
Ganguly was found guilty for breach of clause C1 of the ICC code of conduct for players and/or team officials for his team's slow over rate in last evening's encounter, according to an official release by the ICC. Since this was Ganguly's second offence within a span of 12 months of the same level two offence, the charge has been automatically upgraded to a level three under the ICC code of conduct.
The Indian skipper was found guilty of the charges and suspended for two Test matches with immediate effect, the release said. Clive Lloyd said, "The ICC code relating to over rates needs to be strictly observed and it is important for all the stakeholders in the game, to have matches finished on time. The allotted time of three-and-a-half hours is ample enough to bowl the required 50 overs, so captains need to ensure that all efforts are made to achieve this."
The ICC match referee took the decision on the basis of reports by the match officials. A level three breach of the ICC code carries a suspension of two to four Test matches or four to eight ODI matches. Ganguly has earlier been found guilty of level two offence during the tour of Australia earlier this year. (Agencies)
Published: Sunday, November 14, 2004
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