The Hindu : Sport : Ganguly can play if appeal is not decided

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004

Sport

Sport

Ganguly can play if appeal is not decided

LONDON, NOV. 16. Captain Sourav Ganguly would be able to compete in India's first Test against South Africa beginning November 20 if his appeal against the two-Test ban on him was not finalised before the start of the match, the International Cricket Council said on Tuesday.

Clarifying a media report that the ban decision on Ganguly has been suspended, the ICC said that the Indian captain has exercised his right to appeal the decision made by ICC Match Referee Clive Lloyd.

``The ICC is now appointing a member of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission who will have seven days to hear and determine the appeal. Should this appeal not be finalised before the start of India's first Test against South Africa on November 20, Ganguly would be able to compete in the match'', it said.

The ICC announced the appointment of New Zealand barrister, Tim Castle, as the Appeals Commissioner to hear the case.

A press release said Castle, who has over 30 years' experience in litigation, representative sport, national and international sports administration and management, now has up to seven days to hear and determine the appeal.

"The grounds of the appeal, paperwork from the ICC Match Referee Clive Lloyd and a video of the match have been dispatched to Castle," the release said.

"The process for conducting the hearing is left to the discretion of the Appeals Commissioner. Since the Right of Appeal was introduced in 2002 there have been two previous appeals. In both those instances the Appeals Commissioners reached their decisions based on written and video evidence. Should this appeal not be finalised before the start of the India's first Test against South Africa on 20 November 2004, Ganguly would be able to compete in the match," the release added.

Interestingly, the Appeals Commissioner has the power to increase, decrease, amend or otherwise substitute his own decision from that of the ICC Match Referee. — Agencies

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