Denness row unlikely to affect England Indian tour:Speed

The unprecedented row over the sacking of match referee Mike Denness for the third Test between South Africa and India is unlikely to affect England's current tour of India, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday.

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed told Reuters: "I wouldn't see this having an impact on the England tour.

"There's a bit of water to flow under the bridge at the moment but I don't see any impediment."

Cricket's world governing body has warned South Africa and India that their encounter at Centurion starting on Friday will be stripped of Test status if it goes ahead without Denness.

Denness -- a former England captain -- was barred from officiating by South Africa's United Cricket Board (UCB) on Thursday following appeals from the Indians.

They were unhappy after Denness found Sachin Tendulkar, India's cricketing icon, guilty of ball tampering in the second match of the three-Test series while punishing five other Indian players, including captain Sourav Ganguly, for excessive appealing.

The South African board conceded it had sacked Denness because of its government's concern over links with India.

Speed, asked if India and South Africa could be censured by the ICC for their defiance in going ahead with the match, said: "There's no direct provision. That's a matter for the (ICC) executive board. I'm sure this whole saga will be hotly debated at the next meeting in March."

England are currently in India for a three-Test series starting next month. They return in the new year for a five-match one-day series.

Concern Expressed
The English team had already expressed concern over the trip before their departure earlier this month, with several players worried about security following the attacks on the U.S. and the ensuing events in war-torn Afghanistan.

Speed added of Thursday's controversy: "Yes, it's unprecedented. I feel acute disappointment but cricket is very strong and resilient and it will come through this."

He also flatly rejected suggestions by Jagmohan Dalmiya, head of the Indian cricket board -- and the former head of the ICC -- that he had acted beyond his powers in announcing that the Centurion game would be reduced from Test to mere first-class status.

"I disagree with him. I believe I can (do it) and I have done it, with the authority of the president of the ICC, who I spoke to today," he said.

South African captain Shaun Pollock said: "It's going to be a game of cricket that we will have to play. It's disappointing, but we've got to do something for the spectators."

Pollock expressed sympathy for the ICC in the dispute.

"The ICC have had to take a stand on this, because they are cricket's controlling body," Pollock said.

There was speculation in South Africa, meanwhile, that their staging of the 2003 cricket World Cup could be in jeopardy over the affair.

Ali Bacher, executive director of the 2003 World Cup, told Reuters: "South Africa was awarded the privilege of staging the eighth cricket World Cup in South Africa in 2003.

"Nobody in South Africa should assume that the right is automatic. The World Cup -- the event -- is owned by the ICC."

India's tour of South Africa: Complete coverage

Mail Cricket Editor