Inzy guilty of bringing game into disrepute: to serve 4-ODI ban

London, Sep 28 (UNI) Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq was today banned for four one-day matches for bringing the game into disrepute even as he was cleared of ball-tampering charges.

The ban effectively jeopardises Inzamam's hopes of playing in the LG ICC Champions Trophy which gets under way in India on October 7.

Inzy, however, has a right to appeal within 24 hours.

The ban culminates a contoversy that shook the cricketing world after Pakistan were deemed to have forfeited the fourth and final test against England at The Oval last month when they refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day.

Their protest followed a decision by umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove to change the ball and penalise Pakistan of five runs for alleged ball tampering.

The one-man committee, chaired by ICC chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle, took an exception to Inzamam leading the protests against the umpires on two occasions.

However Madugalle, after the hearing yesterday and today, found the Pakistan captain not guilty of ball-tempering and said the marks on the match ball were consistent with normal wear and tear.

''Having regard to the seriousness of the allegation of ball-tampering -- it is an allegation of cheating -- I am not satisfied on the balance of probabilities there is sufficiently cogent evidence the fielding team had changed the condition of the ball,'' Madugalle said in a statement.

''In my judgement the marks are as consistent with normal wear and tear of a match ball after 56 overs as they are with deliberate human intervention,'' he observed.

However the face-off with umpires later, when Inzamam refused to field the team after tea, did not go down well with the committee.

''On two occasions he led a protest against the umpires by failing to come on to the field of play at the relevant time,'' he said while coming up with the verdict.

''I have taken into account Mr Ul-Haq's expression of regret and an apology and I take into account all the surrounding and mitigating circumstances.'' Eleven witnesses, including Inzamam and the two umpires, gave evidence in the closed hearing.

Among others were fourth umpire Trevor Jesty, match referee Mike Procter, ICC referees and umpires' manager Doug Cowie.

For the defence, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan, coach Bob Woolmer as well as three expert witnesses -- Geoffrey Boycott, Simon Hughes and John Hampshire -- gave evidence.

Meanwhile, the controversy is all but over and only recently had the BCCI asked the ICC not to put Hair in the Champions Trophy umpires' panel.

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