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Ganguly eligible to play Kanpur ODI
The ICC has permitted the Indian captain to play pending resolution of his appeal against the six-match ban.
India's banned captain Sourav Ganguly is free to play until his petition against a six-match suspension is heard by an ICC appeals commissioner, giving selectors an opportunity to include him in the lineup for the fifth limited-overs cricket international against Pakistan.
The International Cricket Council, which received the formal notice of Ganguly's appeal late on Wednesday, said any cricketer may to continue playing international matches until a decision is taken on his petition.
Ganguly, 32, was banned for six matches by ICC match referee Chris Broad of England after Tuesday's fourth one-dayer against Pakistan due to India's persistent slow over-rate, for which the players' code of conduct holds the captain responsible.
"Ganguly is permitted to play pending the resolution of any appeal," the ICC said in a statement as it sought to appoint an appeals commissioner by Friday to hear Ganguly's petition.
The appointment must be made within two days of receiving a notice of appeal.
"Once appointed, the appeals commissioner will have seven days to hear and determine the appeal," the ICC said.
The appeals commissioner has the power to increase or decrease the penalty imposed, or overturn the decision of the match referee.
Five months ago, Ganguly escaped a two-Test ban when appeals commissioner Tim Castle of New Zealand spiked match referee Clive Lloyd's verdict in the wake of India's dismally slow over-rate during a one-off, limited-overs match against Pakistan.
Ganguly's lawyers and the Indian cricket board were on Thursday hoping for a similar reprieve for the captain.
"Sourav has a strong case and we will fight it out," said Ganguly's lawyer, Siddharth Shankar Ray, a former federal minister who later became India's ambassador to the United States.
The fifth one-dayer will be played on Friday in Kanpur, while New Delhi will stage the sixth and final match on Sunday.
Ganguly's ban came after the Indian bowlers showed no urgency to deliver their overs in two successive matches.
