India appeal over Gambhir

India have appealed to the ICC over opener Gautam Gambhir’s one-match ban following his confrontation with Australia's Shane Watson during the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar series.

Gambhir stuck an elbow into Watson's chest while completing a second run on Wednesday en route to his double hundred.

Umpire Billy Bowden has to step in and separate Simon Katich and Gautam Gambhir at the close of play on day one

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He was charged with a Level 2 offence under a clause which deals with playing the game in the right spirit, while Watson was charged with a Level 1 offence.

Gambhir pleaded guilty and was banned for the last match of the series by match referee Chris Broad this morning, with India later opting to contest the punishment.

An ICC statement read: “The ICC today confirmed that it has received official notification from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of its appeal against the finding that opener Gautam Gambhir was guilty of conduct contrary to the spirit of cricket.

“The ICC legal counsel will now appoint a code of conduct commissioner to hear the appeal within 48 hours. Once the commissioner has been named, details of when and where the appeal hearing is to take place will be released.

“The commissioner will determine and hear the appeal inside seven days of his appointment.”

Gambhir may continue to play pending the verdict of the appeal.