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Ganguly can play in SL tri-series
ICC has reduced the six-match ban on the former Indian captain to four ODIs.
Sourav Ganguly will be available to play the India-Sri Lanka one-dayer at Dambulla on Wednesday, after South African Justice Albie Sachs reduced his six-match ban by two. Ganguly, who is expected to reach Colombo by this weekend, has already missed out on two games against Pakistan and will also sit out India's first two games in the tri-series.
"Sourav will join the team for the third game now and play under Rahul (Dravid)," selection committee chairman Kiran More said from Baroda, after Justice Sachs announced his decision in a global teleconference on Thursday night. "There is no change in that."
Justice Sachs was very clear on two things. First, that the process under which Ganguly was banned was upheld (the BCCI was disputing the actual rules and process under which he was banned) and two, that the Ganguly ban itself was also valid.
"It is absolutely fair to hold the captain responsible" he said. "Sourav has led India to some glorious victories and had some bitter defeats, he is responsible for India when the sun is shining and when it is cold." (One of the arguments from Ganguly's side was that he couldn't help the delay --- taking more time to bowl the overs --- as the conditions were very hot).
The only thing he felt was that the penalty itself was slightly harsh. "I think too much weightage was given to the fact that it was a repeat offence because he was warned for the same thing just three days before the game during which he was banned," said Justice Sachs. He said that in his opinion, two factors should count above all others --- the delay itself (or how many overs short a team was) and how deliberate was the intent of the captain in that delay.
He said it was also quite clear that Ganguly's offence was not deliberate. "He wasn't really time-wasting. I think it was perhaps lack of energy as a captain under the circumstances," he said. He said the reduction in the ban was not intended to provide comfort to Ganguly. "He is a captain and knows his rules and regulations. But it was extremely hot and not intentional, so the lack of deliberate intent is highly relevant," he said, asked why Ganguly's penalty was being reduced if the ban itself and the process was valid and had been upheld.
Former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, believed to be the moving force behind the BCCI's protesting the ban, welcomed the reduction but said, he would have been happier if the ban had been totally lifted. "The decision will help Ganguly. It will help him play in Sri Lanka from the third match itself and come back to the mainstream of cricket quickly," said Dalmiya.
Justice Sachs, who also said he had recommended some amendments to the code of conduct to make the rules extremely clear in the future, said there were no two theories about the fact that the ICC could ban a captain for the offence, as had been said by the BCCI. "The rule is valid and there have been nine cases on the same so far, four involving Ganguly," he said. Graeme Smith, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Michael Vaughan are the other skippers who have erred.
On a last note, he said it would be much better for cricket if the BCCI and ICC had a more cordial working relationship with each other. Hopefully, they are paying attention.
