Ganguly was delighted

The Indian captain has won his appeal against a two-Test ban imposed for time-wasting in a one-day match.

"ICC adjudicator Tim Castle's decision rules in Sourav's favour. The two-Test ban has been quashed," said Indian board secretary Karunakaran Nair.

Castle said: "The circumstances were particularly unusual in this game and a large number of them conspired to cause the delays which occurred."

Ganguly said: "I did not want to miss any more matches. I am thankful to God, to the BCCI officials, my lawyers and Tim Castle. I am looking forward to the next Test match against South Africa."

He becomes the first person successfully to appeal against a ban imposed by the ICC.

Ganguly had taken part in a teleconference with Castle on Thursday, and becomes the first person successfully to appeal against a ban.

He hired top lawyer Siddharth Shankar Ray, a former Indian ambassador to the United States, and said afterwards that he felt the hearing had gone well.

ICC APPEAL HISTORY 1. Andrew Hall LOSES his appeal against a two-Test ban for elbowing Pakistan's Yousuf Youhana (Oct 2003) Read full story 2. Shoaib Akhtar LOSES his appeal against a one-Test, two ODI ban for foul and abusive language (Oct 2003) Read full story 3. Sourav Ganguly WINS his appeal against a two-Test ban

Ganguly had been punished by match referee Clive Lloyd for his side's slow bowling in a match against Pakistan, also in Calcutta, on 13 November.

He was initially banned for the two Tests against South Africa but allowed to play in the first match, which ended in a draw on Wednesday, because it was deemed unfair to hear the appeal on the morning of the first Test.

Castle, a judge and arbitrator on the Court of Arbitration for Sport, had the power to increase, decrease or amend the penalty or otherwise substitute his own decision for that of Lloyd's.

Ganguly had been fined twice before this year in similar circumstances, in Sydney and Karachi.

His appeal cited frequent hold-ups caused by injuries to players and the ball getting wet because of excessive dew in the day/night match in Calcutta.