The Indian Cricket Players' Association, rallying behind a beleaguered Sourav Ganguly [Images], termed the six One-Day Internationals ban slapped on him by the International Cricket Council [Images] as 'excessive'.

Arguing that the India captain should have been given a hearing after he filed an appeal, ICPA vice-president Arun Lal, in a statement, said while the ICC [Images] has to ensure over-rates, a six-match ban could impact a cricketer's career.

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"We feel that the six-match ban is excessive. We realize that the ICC has to ensure over-rates, but a six-match ban could impact a players' career -- surely, that is not the intention of the ICC," Lal said.

The ICPA also lauded the Board of Control for Cricket in India for standing by Ganguly.

Ganguly, who is struggling to break out of a prolonged batting slump, was banned by match referee Chris Broad following India's slow over-rate in the fourth ODI against Pakistan in Ahmedabad [Images].

Following ICC Appeals Commissioner Michael Beloff's decision to reject his appeal, he will have to sit out of the next four one-dayers as the ICC said the ban had come into force from the fifth match in the just-concluded six-match India-Pakistan ODI series as the Indian skipper had not played the last two matches.