Gibbs appeal has taken place - ICC by AFP

Event:

DateLine: 25th January 2007

Herschelle Gibbs's appeal has taken place, the International Cricket Council confirmed on Wednesday, after the South African batsman was handed a two-Test ban for "racially offensive" comments.

Richie Benaud, one of the world's best-known cricket commentators, acted as the appeals commissioner in the matter which caused uproar earlier this month.

The charge, laid by ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed, relates to an incident that took place shortly before the lunch interval on the fourth day of the first Test in Centurion when Gibbs's comments regarding Pakistan supporters were overheard through a stump microphone on the ground.

Benaud has complete discretion to increase, reduce, amend or substitute the original verdict and his decision is final and binding.

Gibbs was found guilty of a Level 3 offence under the ICC code of conduct which prohibits using "any language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person's race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethic origin."

At a hearing conducted by Broad after the Test, which South Africa won by seven wickets, Gibbs apologised for his remarks but pleaded not guilty to the ICC charge.