Inzamam appeals more in hope than expectation

Inzamam-ul-Haq feels the strain on the last day © Getty Images

Pakistan will appeal against the one-match ban slapped on Inzamam-ul-Haq by Chris Broad, the ICC's match referee, following incidents on the final day of the Bangalore Test.

Broad reported Inzamam for two instances of misconduct relating to excessive appealing and dissent. On the first count, he was been fined 30% of his match fees and on the second, a level two offence, he was been given a one-Test ban.

Although the Pakistan Cricket Board is waiting for the official notification from the ICC, Saleem Altaf, the team's manager, made it clear that there would be an appeal.

"As soon as we get it, we are going to appeal against the ban and will ask the ICC to review the one-match ban and convert it into a fine," he said. "Broad has taken his decision based on incidents that took place in the ninth over of the Indian innings and just before the last wicket fell. I have discussed the issue in detail with Shaharyar Khan [the PCB chairman] and we feel we have a good chance of a successful appeal against the ban."

The Pakistan Times quoted unnamed sources close to the team as admitting that Inzamam clashed with both umpires during the last day. "Inzamam was so upset that even when [Billy] Bowden started a friendly conversation with Younis Khan he shouted to him in Urdu to shun the umpire," the source said.

Inzamam's actions came at an especially tense time in the match, but that is unlikely to hold much sway as reports suggest that the umpires had already warned the Pakistan players earlier in the day that they needed to moderate some aspects of their behaviour.

Broad told reporters that the Pakistan side had been warned earlier in the day about their conduct. "As captain he has to set an example for others to follow," he said to The Guardian. "Following the incident that happened in the ninth over of the innings, Inzamam was warned about appealing by the on-field umpires. In addition, I went to the Pakistan dressing room at lunch and requested the Pakistan coach to pass a message on to his team about the manner of their appealing. This means that, when this second incident happened, he knew he should not have reacted as he did."

Broad's comments would appear to seriously undermine the chances of Pakistan mounting a successful appeal.