Ganguly returned to action in Saturday's one-day international

Ganguly, just back from injury, was penalised after Saturday's one-off international against Pakistan took an hour longer than scheduled to complete.

International Cricket Council referee Clive Lloyd charged Ganguly with violating the players' code of conduct.

India play two Tests against South Africa, starting in Kanpur on Saturday.

Ganguly has become the first captain to be banned in this way, the International Cricket Council said.

Lloyd conducted a disciplinary hearing on Sunday and found Ganguly guilty of not being able to push his bowlers along to deliver the overs quickly enough in the match, which Pakistan won by six wickets.

Lloyd said in a statement: "The ICC code relating to over-rates needs to be strictly observed and it is important for all the stake holders in the game to have matches finished on time.

"The allotted three and a half hours is ample time to bowl the required 50 overs."

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The Indian cricket board said it would lodge an appeal against the ban.

"We're moving an appeal to the ICC against the ban decision," board president Ranbir Mahendra said.

Captains are usually fined part of their match fees for taking too much time to deliver the overs.

But if the slow over-rate continues than a captain faces suspension.

The ICC said since this was Ganguly's second violation of the code of conduct in the past 12 months which is why the charge was upgraded to a higher level.

He was fined 20% of his match fee, together with Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, for a slow over-rate in a one-day match in Karachi in March.

Ganguly, who missed the last two Tests against Australia with a thigh strain, had only been named in the Test squad on Saturday.

Lloyd also penalised two players for a mid-pitch altercation during the match.

Pakistan batsman Yousuf Youhana was fined 75% of his match fee and Indian pace bowler Irfan Pathan 50%.

India squad: Sourav Ganguly (Capt), Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, VVS Laxman, Mohammad Kaif, Dinesh Karthik (Wkt), Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra.