June 27, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 22, 1429

LONDON, June 26: England captain Paul Collingwood was banned for four limited-overs internationals for his team’s slow over rates in Wednesday’s one-day international against New Zealand.

Referee Javagal Srinath ruled that Collingwood will miss Saturday’s final one-day international of the series against New Zealand, as well as a one-day international against Scotland on August 18, a Twenty20 international against South Africa and one ODI against South Africa. Collingwood chose not to appeal the ban.

England was three overs short of getting through its bowling in the allotted time. It was the second time in 12 months _ the other being against India in Bristol last August _ that a Collingwood-led England had fallen three overs short of getting through its overs.

A second offense lifted Collingwood’s offense from a Level 2 to Level 3 breach of the ICC’s code of conduct. A Level 3 breach carries a minimum ban of four one-day games or two tests, or some combination of the two.

In 2005, India captain Sourav Ganguly was given a six-game ban for slow over-rates during a one-day series with Pakistan, which was later reduced to four games on appeal.

Other England players from Wednesday’s game will be fined 15 percent of their match fees - five percent for each over short.

Collingwood was also heavily criticized by British media for refusing to withdraw an appeal for run out after New Zealand batsman Grant Elliott was felled in a collision with England bowler Ryan Sidebottom. He later apologized for the incident and will not face any further action.—AFP