India, South Africa dump Denness

CAPE TOWN, NOV. 22. South African cricket authorities on Thursday replaced match referee, Mr. Mike Denness, for the third test with India after the visitors threatened to abandon the tour.

However, the International Cricket Council (ICC), which appointed Mr. Denness, said the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) had acted without proper authority and the match would not be recognised as an official test.

The former South African test player and match referee, Mr. Denis Lindsay, has accepted the UCBSA's offer to officiate in the match.

The UCBSA chief executive, Mr. Gerald Majola, said the Indian authorities had agreed that Mr. Lindsay was a suitable replacement.

The Indians were furious that Mr. Denness disciplined six of their players, including Sachin Tendulkar, for bringing the game into disrepute during the second test, and demanded he be replaced for the final test starting on Friday in Centurion.

``We were informed this morning by the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, that the Indian team will not take the field if Mike Denness is acting as match referee,'' Mr. Majola said in a statement.

The board could not afford to cancel the match and asked Mr. Denness to step aside in the interests of the game.

Mr. Denness said he was a properly appointed ICC match referee and could not do so.

Mr. Majola then telephoned the ICC chief executive, Mr. Malcolm Speed, to inform him the board had no alternative but to ask Mr. Denness to excuse himself. If he refused, the board would not allow him access to the match referee's position at the test match ground.

``We sincerely regret that the matter has come to this, however, we are pleased to announce that the third Castle Lager/MTN test match will go ahead as planned,'' Mr. Majola said.

But the ICC said no cricket board had the authority to remove Mr. Denness. ``The ICC cannot accede to demands for his removal. To remove him under this kind of pressure would be to disregard the rules agreed by all member countries and set an unacceptable future precedent,'' said Mr. Speed.

South African officials were not immediately available for comment on the ICC's ruling.

Mr. Denness found Sachin Tendulkar guilty of ball-tampering, captain Sourav Ganguly guilty of failing to control his players, and four others of ``excessive appealing.''

Ganguly 'taken aback'

A Johannesburg report said Ganguly was taken aback when he heard that the UCB had banned Mr. Denness. ``Explain that to me again,'' he said. After hearing further details, he said, ``I cannot comment on that.''

Another report said Ganguly took a swipe at the Australian captain, Steve Waugh, who had backed the disciplinary steps against the Indian players.

Ganguly was quoted by the South African Press Association as saying ``Steve Waugh must shut up. He should worry about Australian cricket.''

Earlier, Mr. Dalmiya said in Kolkata that India had agreed to play the third match following the decision to replace Mr. Denness.

On whether he had informed the ICC of the decision, he said ``there is no question of the BCCI going to the ICC since they have already given their judgment on our demand.'' If the ICC withdrew the two umpires from the match, two South African umpires would officiate, he said.

- AP, PTI

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