Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was banned for six One-Day Internationals for the team's slow over rate in the fourth One-Day International against Pakistan in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

"The ICC Match Referee has verbally told us that he [Ganguly] has been banned for six matches but we are yet to get an official communication," BCCI joint-secretary Goutam Dasgupta informed.

Vice-captain Rahul Dravid has been elevated as captain for the last two ODIs in the series. Virender Sehwag will be his deputy.

India were found to have bowled three overs short during the 48-overs a side match, which Pakistan won by three wickets.

The decision to suspend Ganguly was taken after he breached the ICC Code of Conduct for the second match in succession.

Ganguly was earlier fined 70 per cent of his match fee and reprimanded for having breached C1 Level 2 of International Cricket Council's code of conduct, which relates to unfair play due to his side bowling its overs too slowly in the third match at Jamshedpur.

He pleaded guilty at a hearing conducted by Match Referee Chris Broad.

Five months ago, India's slow overrate during an ODI against Pakistan in Kolkata had resulted in Ganguly being sentenced to a two-Test ban by match referee Clive Lloyd.

The ICC, however, later lifted the ban following an appeal by Ganguly.