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Ganguly banned for six matches

Sourav Ganguly has been banned for six matches after India fell behind with their over-rate yet again today. Chris Broad, the match referee, communicated this to the Indian team management before they announced the squad for the remaining two matches. Rahul Dravid will captain the side in Ganguly's absence.

In addition to the ban, Ganguly, as captain, was fined 30% of his match fee for the slow over rate. The other India players were fined 15 per cent of their match fees.

Goutam Dasgupta, the BCCI's joint secretary, said, "The ICC match referee has verbally told us that he [Ganguly] has been banned for six matches but we are yet to get an official communication." Ganguly was fined 70% of his match fee after the previous game at Jamshedpur, and has apparently been punished for being a repeat offender. At a hearing conducted at the ground at the end of the game Ganguly was penalised and as this is his second breach of this provision within 12 months, the penalty is automatically upgraded from Level 2 to a Level 3 breach under the ICC Code.

Broad revealed that Ganguly hadn't offered any reason for the delay. "This is the second match in succession that India has not bowled its overs within the required timeframe and no excuse was offered by the captain," Broad said. "I made Ganguly aware of the potential penalties at the previous hearing and it is unfortunate that this warning was not heeded."

Sridharan Sriram, who claimed five wickets, including a hat-trick, in Tamil Nadu's win in the semi-finals of the Ranji one-day tournament today, was included in the side in Ganguly's place. The selectors also decided to pick Anil Kumble for the final two games, and have left out Irfan Pathan.

Indian squad for the final two one-dayers
Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Sridharan Sriram, Dinesh Mongia, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Zaheer Khan, Murali Kartik, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Ashish Nehra.