In-form Gambhir banned for one Test, to appeal

NEW DELHI: Gautam Gambhir, India's top scorer in the current series against Australia, was handed a one-Test ban on Friday for elbowing all-rounder Shane Watson in the ongoing match which the player has decided to appeal.
    
The punishment, which will be appealed against despite Gambhir pleading guilty to the offence during the hearing, if not overturned, rules him out of the fourth and final Test starting November 6 in Nagpur, a prospect that can weaken India's batting line-up.
    
"India opener Gautam Gambhir has received a one Test ban after being found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the third Test against Australia in New Delhi," the ICC said in a statement after Match Referee Chris Broad imposed
the maximum punishment for the offence.
    
The stylish left-hander has scored the maximum runs in the last five innings against Australia with a century and a 67 in Mohali and a double century here. So far he has scored 427 runs.
    
Gambhir had elbowed Watson while taking a run on the opening day of the ongoing match after a heated exchange with the Aussie all-rounder.
    
The Indian met match referee Chris Broad this morning before the start of third day's play when he was informed of the penalty.
    
"The decision to find Gambhir guilty of a level 2 offence is indicative of the fact that any degree of physical contact is unacceptable," said Broad who decided not to be lenient by giving a lesser penalty of a fine of between 50 and 100 per cent of the player's match fee.
    
"For Level 2 offences, the concerned players have the right to appeal against the adjudicator's decision within 24 hours of notification of the decision. Accordingly, Mr. Gambhir will be lodging an appeal," BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a press release.
    
The hearing had been adjourned last evening to allow the match referee to review the evidence.
    
The opener was charged under Rule C1 of the Code (Level 2) which states that "players shall at all times conduct play within the spirit of the game."
    
Watson was found guilty on Thursday of "verbally engaging" with Gambhir "in a manner that was not in keeping with the Spirit of Cricket" and fined 10 per cent of his match fee.
    
Broad said Gambhir could have been charged under a stronger code considering his past involvement in a similar run-in with Pakistani Shahid Afridi which resulted in a heavy fine.
    
But a lighter charge and sentence were imposed on him after umpires Billy Bowden and Aleem Dar highlighted the provocation by Watson.
    
"Had Gambhir been charged with and found guilty of a charge under 2.4, due to his previous offence, I would have been obliged to impose a minimum penalty of a two-Test match ban. In the view of the umpires, the facts of this case - the lightness of the physical conduct and the element of provocation - would not justify such a penalty," he added.

Broad said Gambhir's punishment was decided after taking into account his past disciplinary record.
    
"The ICC has repeatedly told the players that deliberate physical contact between players will not be tolerated. I have also taken into account the previous offences of Gambhir and therefore, I am satisfied that the penalty imposed is an appropriate outcome in the circumstances of this matter. I hope Mr Gambhir will learn from this," he said.
    
Present at the hearing was Gambhir himself, Broad, umpires Bowden and Dar, third umpire Suresh Shastri and fourth umpire Sameer Bandekar, India coach Gary Kirsten and captain Anil Kumble.