PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (Reuters)
Kenya captain Maurice Odumbe has been banned for two matches for making critical public comments about an umpire. At a news conference after Kenya's nine wicket loss to South Africa in Kimberley on Sunday, Odumbe accused one of the umpires of contravening the spirit of cricket. "I must point out that there was one gentleman out there who was not very friendly towards us and I've put that in my report," Odumbe said. "If you ask an official to show you where you are overstepping and he turns round and says 'look for yourself -- the marks are there', I don't think that's in the spirit of the game."

On Tuesday match referee Judge Ahmed Ebrahim said Odumbe had been banned for two matches. "Maurice Odumbe has been suspended for two matches," Judge Ebrahim told reporters. "He's been found guilty of breaching code 8C of the ICC (International Cricket Council) code of conduct which precludes team officials and players from making public comment about umpires. There are proper channels for this to be done." Odumbe will miss Kenya's match against India in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday and their final game against South Africa in Cape Town on October 22. He will be available for selection for their final group match against India in Paarl on October 24.

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