The two-Test ban on India captain Sourav Ganguly has been lifted by the International Cricket Council.

ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India about the decision on Friday.

"We have received a communication to this effect from Speed. Ganguly is free to play now," BCCI secretary S K Nair said.

Ganguly was slapped a two-Test suspension by ICC Match Referee Clive Lloyd for India's slow over rate in the BCCI's Platinum Jubilee One-Day International against Pakistan in Kolkata on November 13. He appealed against the decision, citing frequent changing of the ball, heavy due and injury to Pakistan batsman Salman Butt as the reasons for the delay.

The ICC appointed New Zealand lawyer Tim Castle to hear the Indian captain's appeal and allowed him to play the first Test against South Africa in Kanpur last week pending the hearing, which was conducted via a teleconference on Thursday.