Mike Denness, the ICC match referee appointed for the Castle Lager/MTN Test matches of the Summer Spice Series between South Africa and India, held four separate hearings with members of the Indian team yesterday and made the following findings:

1. Sachin Tendulkar:

For alleged interference with the match ball, thus changing its condition.

Match Referee Decision:

By acting on the match ball, Mr Tendulkar brought the game into disrepute (ICC Players and Team Officials Code No. 2) and has been fined 75% of his match fee, plus a one-Test Match ban. The ban will be suspended until the last day of December 2001.

Players and Team Officials Code No 2:

"Players and/or Team Officials shall at no time engage in conduct unbecoming to their status which could bring them or the game of cricket into disrepute."

2. Virender Sehwag:

For alleged breach of ICC Players and Team Officials Code No. 3 & 4. Showing dissent at the Umpire's decision and attempting to intimidate the Umpire by charging.

Match Referee Decision:

Mr Sehwag has been fined 75% of his match fees plus a one-Test Match ban with immediate effect.

Players and Team Officials Code No.3:

"Players and/or Team Officials must at all times accept the umpire's decision and not show dissent at the umpire's decision."

Players and Team Officials Code No.4:

"Players and/or Team Officials shall not verbally abuse, assault, intimidate or attempt to assault or intimidate any umpire, spectator, Referee, Player or Team Official. Nor shall any player and/or Team Official engage in any conduct towards or speak to any other player, umpire, spectator, referee or team official in a manner which offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies the other person on the basis of that other person's race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin."

3. Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Deep Dasgupta and Shiv Sunder Das:

For alleged breach of ICC Players and Team Officials Code No 3 & 4. Showing dissent at the Umpire's decision and attempting to intimidate the Umpire by charging.

Match Referee Decision:

Mr Singh, Mr Das and Mr Dasgupta have all been fined 75% of match fees plus a one-Test Match ban. The ban will be suspended until the last day of January 2002.

3.1 Virender Sehwag:

For alleged breach of ICC Players and Team Officials Code No. 5. Use of crude or abusive language.

Match Referee Decision:

Refer: No. 2 above.

Players and Team Officials Code No 5: "Players and/or Team Officials shall not use crude or abusive language nor make offensive gestures."

4 Sourav Ganguly:

For alleged breach of ICC Players and Team Officials Code No.1 & 2.

Spirit of the Game, including Conduct of on-field players and bringing the game into disprepute.

Match Referee Decision:

Mr Ganguly so long as he remains Captain of India a one-Test Match and two-ODI Matches ban have been imposed. The ban will be suspended until the last day of January 2002.

Players and Team Officials Code No 1: "The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit of the game as well as within the Laws of Cricket."

Players and Team Officials Code No 2: "Players and/or Team Officials shall at no time engage in conduct unbecoming to their status which could bring them or the game of cricket into disrepute."

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