Quick footwork on the part of the BCCI has ensured that India's cricket captain Sourav Ganguly will, despite the six match ban imposed on him for slow over rates, be eligible to play the 5th ODI of the ongoing series against Pakistan, at Kanpur on Friday.
The morning after the ban was announced, Ganguly flew to Kolkata and drove straight to the residence of former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya.
There, it was decided to file the appeal; Dalmiya and a team of legal experts led by BCCI's lawyer Usha Nath Banerjee worked on the draft appeal.
The main ground cited is that per the ICC's own rules, there is no provision for banning a player for slow over rates on level 2 and 3 offenses -- the same argument used in November 2004, when then match referee Clive Lloyd banned Ganguly for two matches two Tests after the Indian captain failed to complete the quota of overs on time in the one-off ODI at the Eden Gardens against Pakistan to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of the BCCI.
Adjudicator Tim Castle had, on that occasion, set aside the ban.
Notice of the current appeal was sent to the ICC headquarters by Wednesday evening.
Once a ban is appealed, it is automatically stayed until the review process can be completed.
The ICC now has to appoint a commissioner, who will then adjudicate on the appeal -- the rules stipulate that this process has to be completed within 48 hours of receiving the appeal.
The adjudicator has to listen to the principals -- match referee Chris Broad, skipper Ganguly, and anyone else it deems fit.
The adjudicator is bound to give his verdict within 7 days of the hearing.
In the interim, the ban is automatically suspended, which in effect means Ganguly can play in Kanpur on Friday, and even in the final game of the series in New Delhi on Sunday, if the ICC adjudicator does not deliver his verdict before that date.
