JOHANNESBURG, Nov 22 - Match referee Mike Denness, who has been refused access to the Centurion Park ground for the third Test between South Africa and India Friday, said he would not seek a confrontation with ground officials.

“I cannot really say anything at this stage, but it’s disappointing,” Denness told Reuters.

“I certainly won’t be going to the ground tomorrow (Friday) but that is all I can say.”

Denness has been at the centre of a row after he fined and imposed a suspended ban on Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar for ball-tampering during the drawn second test.

Denness also fined and handed out bans to five other Indian players, including captain Saurav Ganguly, after the drawn second Test in Port Elizabeth.

The United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB) decided to replace Denness for the final Test to prevent an Indian boycott and have named Denis Lindsay as the referee for the match despite the ICC, cricket’s ruling body, insisting that Denness should officiate.—Reuters