Ganguly surprised by UCB decision

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was taken aback to hear that the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB) had banned the ICC-appointed match referee, Mike Denness, from the third Test starting on Friday.

"Explain that to me again," a surprised Ganguly said when Reuters told him of the UCB's decision.

After hearing further details, he said, "I can't comment on that."

The ICC, world cricket's ruling body, rejected a request by India on Wednesday to have Denness replaced as match referee for the Centurion Test starting on Friday.

But, in an unprecedented decision, the UCB - under pressure from the Pretoria government - said on Thursday Denness would be banned from taking up his position after refusing a UCB request for him to voluntarily stand down.

Former South African Test player and experienced match referee Denis Lindsay has since accepted the UCB's offer to officiate in the match.

Denness has been at the centre of an ongoing row between the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following his decisions as match referee in the second Test.

BCCI chairman Jagmohan Dalmiya called for Denness to be removed after he found Sachin Tendulkar guilty of doctoring the ball in the drawn second Test in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.

Tendulkar was given a suspended one-match ban and fined while Denness also sanctioned five other Indian players, including captain Sourav Ganguly, for bringing the game into disrepute through excessive appealing.

Although it remains unclear whether the third and final match of the series will lose its official Test status, Ganguly said: "We'll be up for the match."

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Mail Cricket Editor