BCCI question Gambhir ruling

Gautam Gambhir is set to miss the fourth Test after his one-match ban was upheld

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India have objected to the International Cricket Council after Gautam Gambhir’s appeal against a one-match ban was rejected.

The appeal was heard today by Justice Albie Sachs, who upheld the original decision of match referee Chris Broad to ban Gambhir for the fourth Test against Australia following an incident with Shane Watson in the third match.

A BCCI statement read: “The said order has been passed without affording the player an opportunity of personal hearing, legal representation and without acceding to his request for certain documents (or) recordings to be given to him and also denying him an extension of time.

“On receipt of the order, the Board has refused to accept the decision...and has sent its objection...to (the) ICC.”

Gambhir was banned after he pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to play "within the spirit of the game as well as within the laws of cricket".

The batsman appeared to elbow Watson as he was taking a run.

Justice Sachs, in his verdict, said: “I am prepared to accept that he (Gambhir) had been the victim of prolonged and persistent verbal abuse by members of the Australian team, culminating in a moment of anger that led to his unfortunate lapse.

“(But) cricket is not a contact sport. Small collisions can lead to big ones. Players must constantly be on guard to avoid physical contact with opposition players. The risk of accidental collision must be cut down.

"Deliberate collision can never be condoned, however grave the provocation.

“Accordingly, while not without sympathy for Gautam Gambhir, I cannot find that the penalty imposed on him is so disproportionately severe that I should intervene.

"He concedes that what he did was unacceptable. It was not the first time. Millions of people saw it. Though his excellence does not require him to be better behaved than mediocre players, it does not give him immunity from the rules of the code of conduct.

"The cricketing world is entitled to expect from him and all cricketers the highest standards. The rules against actual or threatened violence against opponents must be strictly enforced.

"The appeal must fail. The penalty stands.”