Rayudu gets two-game ban

Mumbai: Hyderabad captain Ambati Rayudu has been handed a two-match suspension for breaching the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) code of conduct during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Karnataka on January 11.

"Rayudu is barred from participating in the first two matches for Hyderabad in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy," the BCCI said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Rayudu pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by BCCI and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing." The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Abhijit Deshmukh, Ulhas Vithalrao Gandhe and third umpire Anil Dandekar. The incident took place during Hyderabad's two-run defeat to Karnataka.

During the match, Hyderabad’s deep mid-wicket fielder Mehdi Hasan’s foot had touched the ropes, but the on-field umpires did not check with the third umpire and signalled two instead of a boundary to Karun Nair. Karnataka ended their innings on 203/5.

Tempers flared when two runs were added to the Karnataka total, owing to the umpiring error, the margin by which Hyderabad lost eventually. They scored 203/9 in 20 overs. Rayudu took up the issue with the umpires at the end of the game, delaying the second match schedule.