Madugalle's stadium ban decision upheld by ICC

The BCCI's appeal against the one-year ban on New Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla stadium has been dismissed, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Wednesday.

The fifth and final match of the series between

Sri Lanka and India in December was called off

after 23.3 overs due to a dangerous pitch, upon

which the tourists had struggled to 83 for five.

Following an investigation by chief referee

Ranjan Madugalle and cricket operations manager

Dave Richardson, the ICC ruled last month that no

international cricket could be played at the

stadium until the end of 2010.

Independent appeals commissioner Michael Beloff

decided the imposed suspension was proportionate

in this case, the ICC said in a statement.

"In his judgment Mr Beloff states that following

due consideration of all the evidence and

submissions from both the ICC and BCCI, the

correct decision was taken by Mr Richardson and

Mr Madugalle to declare the pitch to be dangerous

and, therefore, unfit," the statement said.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the focus

would now be on getting the stadium ready for the

World Cup which India is jointly hosting with Sri

Lanka and Bangladesh from Feb. 19 to April 2,

next year

The New Delhi stadium is scheduled to stage four

matches.

"The ICC's pitch consultant will travel shortly

to Feroz Shah Kotla, a ground with a long and

proud history, to begin the process of remedial

work that will ensure the pitch is restored to

its former glory," Lorgat said in a statement.