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Cricket

Gambhir banned from final Test

31/10/2008

India opener Gautam Gambhir will miss the final Test match against Australia next week after being found guilty of elbowing Shane Watson.

Gambhir, who is the leading run-scorer in the series, was cited by the match umpires after an incident with Watson on the first day of the third Test, when the left-handed batsman clashed with the Australian.

As Gambhir ran between the wickets during the 51st over of the match Watson appeared to raise his arm towards the opener, who went on to score a double century in the match.

Apparently in retaliation, Gambhir seemed to elbow Watson when returning for the second run, leading to the two men being separated by umpire Billy Bowden.

The ICC charged the Indian with a level two breach of clause C1 of the ICC code, which states that players "shall at all times conduct play within the spirit of the game as well as within the laws of cricket".

Watson was charged with a level one breach of the same regulation, for which he was fined ten per cent of his match fee yesterday.

In handing down the decision to ban Gambhir, ICC Match Referee Chris Broad said the punishment was "indicative of the fact that any degree of physical contact is unacceptable".

Last November he was also fined 65 per cent of his match fee over a clash with Shahid Afridi in a one-day international against Pakistan.

And Broad said this had been taken into consideration.

"Had Gambhir been charged with and found guilty of a charge under 2.4, due to his previous offence, I would have been obliged to impose a minimum penalty of a two-Test match ban," he explained.

"In the view of the umpires, the facts of this case - the lightness of the physical conduct and the element of provocation - would not justify such a penalty.

"The umpires accordingly had regard to the notes of the ICC code of conduct which provides for a player to be charged under rule C1 if the circumstances of the alleged incident are not adequately covered by the listed offences.

"Whilst I concur with this view, the ICC has repeatedly told the players that deliberate physical contact between players will not be tolerated.

"I have also taken into account the previous offences of Gambhir and therefore, I am satisfied that the penalty imposed is an appropriate outcome in the circumstances of this matter."

Broad added: "I hope Mr Gambhir will learn from this."

The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) have declared their intention to appeal the suspension, meaning a hearing will be set up within 48 hours to hear Gambhir's case.