LONDON, Sept 28: Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was cleared on Thursday of ball-tampering but found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute over his side's refusal to play during last month's fourth Test against England.

After a two-day disciplinary hearing, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that Inzamam would be banned for four one-day internationals, which effectively rules him out of next month's Champions Trophy one-day tournament in India.

The sanction – the 11th time in his career that Inzamam had been punished under the ICC code of conduct - is considerably less severe than the maximum ban Inzamam could have received, which would have ruled him out for up to four Tests and up to eight one dayers.

“Since this is the minimum possible suspension I don't think we would appeal,” Inzamam told a private TV channel.

“And since the next four matches start with the ICC Champions Trophy next month, I won't be able to play the tournament.”

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar M. Khan said his team felt ‘totally vindicated’ after Inzamam was cleared of ball-tampering.

The decision to clear Inzamam “removed the slur on the good name of our team and our country”, Shaharyar said, adding: “Inzamam's captaincy is not affected.”

Inzamam was punished for his role in Pakistan's unprecedented forfeit of the fourth Test against England at the south London ground last month.

Pakistan twice refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day of the fourth Test against England on Aug 20.

They did so in protest at the decision of umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove to penalise them five runs for ball-tampering earlier in the day.

Their stand saw Pakistan forfeit the match – the first time this had happened in 129 years of Test cricket – and England were awarded a win which gave them the series 3-0.

“It was a matter of the team's reputation and ball-tampering allegations meant that we'd cheated during the Test match,” Inzamam added.

“We have built a reputation for this young team in the last four years and what happened at The Oval was an attempt to spoil it.

“Everyone in Pakistan welcomed my decision to protest and I think they would have prayed for my team and for myself. That is why we have been acquitted of ball-tampering charges.”

Earlier, in clearing Inzamam of ball tampering, ICC chief referee Ranjan Madugalle said in a statement: “On the first charge of ball-tampered under paragraph 2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct, I find Mr ul-Haq not guilty.

“Having regard to the seriousness of the allegation of ball-tampering - it is an allegation of cheating - I am not satisfied on the balance of probabilities that there is sufficiently cogent evidence the fielding team had changed the condition of the ball.

“In my judgment, the marks are as consistent with normal wear and tear of a match ball after 56 overs as they are with deliberate human interventions.”

Madugalle revealed he had taken the testimony of the expert witnesses into account when coming to his decision. The statement added: “I have considered their evidence, honestly and fairly given, very carefully. But my duty is to form and give my own judgment.” Madugalle’s findings backed- up Pakistan’s insistence they had not tampered with the ball.

Giving his verdict on disrepute charges, Madugalle added: “He (Inzamam) has been found guilty of twice deliberately refusing to come onto the field of play as a protest against the umpires.” Inzamam’s four-match ban will rule him out for the next month’s Champions Trophy Tournament in India - a competition which Pakistan would be regarded as among the favourites to win.

Pakistan have 24 hours to prepare an appeal against the ban.

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said: "I hope that all parties can move on and accept those decisions and put them behind them.”

“For us, we move on to the ICC Champions Trophy in India where we will have four weeks of great cricket.

"I hope that the players, the umpires and the cricket fans can enjoy a great festival of cricket in India as we all move on and put this issue behind us."—Agencies