Indian batsman could be available for final Test against Australia
South African judge Albie Sachs has been appointed to hear the appeal into Indian opener Gautam Gambhir's one-Test ban.
Gambhir was handed the sanction by match referee Chris Broad after being found guilty of acting contrary to the spirit of the game during the third Test against Australia in Delhi.
The left-hander stuck an elbow in the chest of Shane Watson while taking a second run en route to his double century in the first innings.
Gambhir has appealed against Broad's decision and, under the provisions of the International Cricket Council's code of conduct, Justice Sachs has the power to increase, decrease, amend or otherwise substitute his own decision from that made at the previous hearing. His ruling is final and binding.
"The process indicates that the appeal should be heard within seven days of the commissioner being appointed," read an ICC statement.
The date of the hearing has yet to be decided meaning Gambhir's availability for the fourth and final Test against Australia - which starts in Nagpur on November 7 - remains undetermined. He will be available unless the hearing takes place, and his ban upheld, prior to the start of the match.
Australia all-rounder Watson was charged with a level one offence under the ICC code of conduct for his part in the incident, he was found guilty by Broad at a hearing on Thursday and fined 10 percent of his match fee.
Gambhir's heavier punishment reflected the fact he had previously been found guilty of a similar offence against Pakistan's Shahid Afridi.
