Perth, January 16: MS Dhoni, India's captain, has been banned for the Adelaide Test after India were found to be two overs short of the required over-rate in Perth. In Dhoni's absence, Virender Sehwag will captain the side in Adelaide. Wriddhiman Saha, who debuted in Nagpur as a specialist batsman in unusual circumstances against South Africa in 2009-10, is the reserve wicketkeeper on tour.
India sent down 76 overs in 362 minutes in the only innings they bowled in at the WACA ground. There were allowances made for the 10 wickets they took and other interruptions for movement behind sight screen and injury timeouts, but India were still found short.
Dhoni pleaded guilty, and said he was aware of the regulations. He was fined 40% of his match fees, and the rest of the team was docked 20% each. This was India's second over-rate offence in the last 12 months. Dhoni had been on notice after India were found short in Barbados in June-July last year.
The rule regarding the over-rate offences was changed last June. Earlier captains were allowed three such offences within a period of 12 months before they were banned, but in its meeting in Hong Kong the ICC board accepted the ICC cricket committee recommendation that captains of international sides be suspended for a match when found guilty of two such transgressions within 12 months.
India played four fast bowlers in Perth, a tactic which might have eventually pulled their over-rate down.
--Agencies--