LONDON (Reuters)
World cricket's governing body has rejected a request by India to have Mike Denness replaced as match referee for the third and final Test against South Africa starting on Friday.

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Malcolm Speed said: "Given that the ICC is satisfied that all procedures have been adhered to, we cannot agree to this request.

"Mike Denness is a former (England) Test captain and a very experienced match referee. During his time refereeing Test and one-day internationals, his record has been one of fairness and consistency."

Jagmohan Dalmiya, chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), had said Denness should be stood down after finding Sachin Tendulkar guilty of doctoring the ball in the drawn second Test in Port Elizabeth. Tendulkar, shown on television apparently working on the seam with his fingernail, was given a suspended one-match ban and fined.

Denness also sanctioned five other Indian players, including captain Sourav Ganguly, for bringing the game into disrepute through excessive appealing in the second Test. However, an ICC spokesman said: "On the match referee's judgement there is no right of appeal."

The Indians have argued that Tendulkar was merely cleaning the ball and was not accused of doctoring it by the match umpires.

ICC president Malcolm Gray said in a statement: "The ICC is concerned about standards of on-field behaviour and has asked umpires and referees to take a stronger stance in respect of charging offending players and imposing appropriate penalties. This initiative has the strong support of all members of the ICC executive board."

The third and final Test between South Africa and India starts at Centurion on Friday, with the home country leading the series 1-0.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd