Indians to regard match as Test
India will consider their match against South Africa, due to start on Friday, as a Test despite the game no longer being regarded as such by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The match, billed as the third Test, had its Test status withdrawn by the ICC after the United Cricket Board (UCB) said it would stop ICC match referee Mike Denness from officiating.
"It should still be considered a Test match and this dispute will go on," Indian team manager MK Bhargava told Reuters on Thursday. "We will play the match, and we will consider it a Test match."
Bhargava disputed the ICC's action in deciding the match would not be regarded as a Test.
"There has been no meeting of the ICC to withdraw Test status from the match - one man cannot make that decision," Bhargava said.
The UCB took their decision in the wake of angry Indian reaction to Denness's actions in the second Test, including finding Sachin Tendulkar guilty of ball tampering.
The ball tampering issue
India's tour of South Africa: Complete coverage
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