Ganguly has been frequently warned about his team's slow rate

India captain Sourav Ganguly's appeal against his six-match one-day international ban has been rejected.

Ganguly was suspended because of his team's slow over-rate in the fourth ODI against Pakistan last Tuesday.

Ganguly had been able to play for his country while officials considered his appeal but India opted to leave him out of the last two games against Pakistan.

ICC chief Malcolm Speed confirmed these two matches would count as the first two missed under the six-match ban.

"The initial decision of the match referee to impose this ban clearly had an impact on the ability of the Indian team to determine and select the make-up of its side," said Speed.

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ICC Appeals Commissioner, Michael Beloff QC, considered comprehensive written submissions from Ganguly and the match officials before deciding the original punishment had to stand.

In his judgement Beloff said: "Cricket is a game played in all kinds of climates; it cannot be right that the mere fact of the heat and humidity will excuse a failure to achieve the minimum over rate."

India are not scheduled to play limited overs matches again until a one-day series in Sri Lanka in August.

Ganguly confirmed he had received the rejection letter from the ICC but said he had not yet spoken to the India board of control.

"I'll use this time to practice hard and get back to form," he said.