ICC wants written appeal from BCCI

The International Cricket Council has rejected Indian calls for a review of the decision to punish Sachin Tendulkar for ball tampering during the drawn second Test against South Africa.

The sport's world governing body added on Wednesday that it would wait for a written approach from the Indian board before considering its demand for match referee Mike Denness to be replaced for the third and final Test following the controversy.

Board of Control for Cricket in India chairman Jagmohan Dalmiya had said Denness should be stood down after finding Tendulkar guilty of doctoring the ball on Tuesday.

Tendulkar, shown on television apparently working on the seam with his fingernail, was given a suspended one-match ban and fined.

Denness also sanctioned five other Indian players, including captain Sourav Ganguly, for bringing the game into disrepute through excessive appealing during the Port Elizabeth game.

But an ICC spokesman said: "On the match referee's judgement there is no right of appeal.

"The Indian board have been requested to outline their position in writing to the ICC. As and when that arrives we'll deal with it."

The Indians have argued that Tendulkar was merely cleaning the ball and was not accused of doctoring it by the match umpires.

The third Test starts at Centurion on Friday. South Africa won the first Test in Bloemfontein by nine wickets.

The ball tampering controversy

India's tour of South Africa : Complete coverage

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