BCCI seeks review of Ganguly ban

The BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra made a low-key visit to the city this morning to discuss the matter with the Board’s legal counsel Usha Nath Banerjee and former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, before sending the letter to the ICC chief Ehsan Mani.

Speaking to The Indian Express Mahendra said: ‘‘The letter deals with certain elements and specific issues to which we object to the ICC’s last ruling on Ganguly’s case. We are not happy with these elements or points which we categorically stated in the letter. I am sure the ICC will soon do the needful.’’

The ICC project officer for corporate affairs Jon Long, who is currently in Ireland, today told this paper: ‘‘We can’t decide on appointing the DRC or any person as the arbiter until we have a good look at the content of the letter the BCCI sent us. Based on whatever the BCCI’s request is, we will go about the process of solving the dispute very soon.’’

Interestingly, if the BCCI can convince the world body to designate a separate DRC for reviewing the rules on over-rates, then it will eventually throw open options for beleaguered South African skipper Graeme Smith as well, who is also serving a four-match ODI ban due to slow over-rates. The Indian skipper was slapped the six-match ban after he was found guilty of violating section J-5 (iii) of the ICC Code of Conduct that deals with slow over-rates, during the fourth India-Pakistan tie at Ahmedabad. Ganguly had to sit out of the last two matches of the six-match series, and followed it up with an appeal to the ICC challenging the ban.