Justice Sachs upholds one Test ban on Gambhir

Nagpur, Nov 5 (UNI) India suffered a big blow ahead of the fourth Test against Australia here when Gautam Gambhir's ban for one Test was upheld by Justice Albie Sachs, appointed by the ICC to hear his appeal.

The penalty which was imposed by match referee Chris Broad, was upheld by Justice Sachs without conducting a hearing into the matter.

The BCCI, however, has refused to accept the decision, and has conveyed its objection to the ICC.

''The said order has been passed without affording the player an opportunity of personal hearing, legal representation and without acceding to his request for certain documents / recordings to be given to him and also denying him an extension of time,'' BCCI sources said here.

Gambhir was banned for one Test by match referee Chris Broad after he pleaded guilty to a charge of not conducting play ''within the spirit of the game as well as within the laws of cricket''. The incident that led to the ban occurred in the 51st over of India's first innings in the third Test in Delhi, when Gambhir, who had verbal altercations with Shane Watson, appeared to elbow the bowler during a run.

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