Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was yesterday cleared of ball-tampering but found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute over his side's refusal to play during last month's fourth Test against England.
After a two-day disciplinary hearing, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that Inzamam would be banned for four one-day internationals. The sanction is considerably less severe than the maximum ban Inzamam could have received, which would have ruled him out for up to four Tests and up to eight one-dayers.
Inzamam has 24 hours to decide whether he wants to appeal. If he does the ICC has 48 hours from receiving the request to appoint a code of conduct commission to hear the appeal and seven days from then in which to hold the appeal hearing.
If the 36-year-old batsman does not contest his punishment, the ban will rule him out of Pakistan's opening matches in the Champions Trophy in India where their first fixture, against a yet to be determined opponent on Oct. 17 in Jaipur.
Inzamam, who received his ban after a hearing which started Wednesday at The Oval presided over by ICC chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle, was being punished for his role in Pakistan's unprecedented forfeit of the fourth Test against England at the south London ground last month.
Pakistan twice refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day of the fourth Test against England on Aug. 20.
They did so in protest at the decision of umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove to penalize them five runs for ball-tampering earlier in the day.
RSS