Ganguly gets one-match suspension

India skipper Sourav Ganguly was on Tuesday slapped a one-match suspension for showing dissent and intimidating the umpires during the fourth one-day international against Zimbabwe in Kanpur on Monday.

The ban means Ganguly will have to sit out of the series-ending fifth and final one-day international in Rajkot.

International Cricket Council match referee Barry Jarman of Australia announced the ban after going through the video tapes of the match.

Wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya, who was also reported for intimidating the umpires and showing dissent, was however let off with a mild penalty -- a one-match suspended suspension.

Jarman said Ganguly tried to disrupt the game after his three appeals for leg before wicket were turned down by umpire C K Sathe.

Jarman said besides a one-match suspension, Ganguly would have to undergo a suspended suspension for two one-dayers from December 11 to June 1, 2001. "However, no monetary penalty has been slapped on him."

Ganguly had made strong lbw appeals against Mluleki Nkala in the 37th over of the match for what he thought were close calls and showed his displeasure when Sathe turned all of them down.

India won the match by nine wickets and 25 overs to spare, for an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the series.

In the absence of Ganguly, Rahul Dravid will lead India on Thursday.

Reacting to the suspension, Ganguly said he knew it (the ban) was coming, "but I don't want to say anything".

Mail Cricket Editor