COLOMBO, Aug 4: Saurav Ganguly narrowly escaped censure of the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee John Reid for lingering longer at the wicket than what is acceptable after being adjudged out on the second day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka, here, at the Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Ganguly's extra-long wait at the wicket after being dismissed did not go down well with Reid. The match referee summoned India captain Sachin Tendulkar, manager Ratnakar Shetty and Ganguly after the conclusion of the day's play to seek an explanation on the matter.

The Indian middle-order batsman explained that he stood there a moment longer out of disappointment than as an act of dispute or dissension against the umpire's verdict.

Reid seemed convinced by Ganguly's explanation and let him off with words of caution against any repetition of such behaviour. He told the batsman that television cameras are shooting every action and emotion and it's important to uphold the dignity of the game.

It may be recalled that Ganguly edged an intended drive into the hands of Roshan Mahanama in the slips to be out for a duck. He had waited a long time as Tendulkar and Mohammed Azharuddin added a mammoth 221 runs for the fourth wicket. If the wait was frustrating, the cheap dismissal was a bigger blow to him on a wicket full of runs. It was taking the circumstances into account, Reid accepting Ganguly's reply.

Reid, a former New Zealand captain, is perceived as a tough ICC match referee. He has already pulled up one Indian on the tour when he fined Navjot Singh Sidhu 10 per cent of his match fees for violating the stipulations governing the display of logos during three Pepsi Asia Cup finals against Sri Lanka.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.