Match Referee summons Ganguly

Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly was today summoned by the match referee Chris Broad for a hearing over the team's slow over rate in the third one-day international against Pakistan in Jamsehdpur on Saturday.

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Sources close to the team said Broad concluded that the Indians had bowled three overs short after making allowance for the time lost due to factors over which the fielding side skipper did not have any control.

The skipper was accompanied by coach John Wright and team manager Baladitya.

The umpires - Billy Bowden and K Hariharan -- and third umpire A V Jayprakash were present at the hearing.

The sources said it was a level 2 offence and Ganguly would escape with a fine.

The verdict would be formally announced in a day or two, they said.

Ganguly was earlier pulled up by match referee Clive Lloyd after the November 13 BCCI platinum jubilee ODI against Pakistan for slow over rate and breach of Code C1 at Level 3.

The offence was rated Level 3 as Sourav was earlier called by the same Match referee during the seventh ODI between India and Australia at Sydney on January 22 last year for the same reason.

In Sydney, Ganguly was fined 50 per cent of his match fees.

Under the purview of the clause, the players/team officials shall at all times conduct play within the spirit of the game as well as within the Laws of Cricket and the captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that this is adhered to.

If the captains failed to carry out the responsibilities they were suceptible to fines or suspension.

Accordingly, Clive suspended Ganguly for two Tests for the level 2 offence.

However, the ban was quashed on November 24 after Ganguly made an appeal to the International Cricket Council.