The International Cricket Council says it will not recognize Friday's test match between India and South Africa because Englishman Mike Denness is not the referee.
The South African Cricket Board banned Denness from the match after India threatened a boycott. The ICC said in a statement that Denness had been properly appointed the match referee and was accepted by both teams. The statement said to remove him would be to disregard the rules agreed to by all cricket playing nations.
Denness found Indian star Sachin Tendulkar guilty of ball tampering, captain Sourav Ganguly was cited for failing to control his players, and four other players were charged with "excessive appealing" during the second test in Port Elizabeth. The action enraged Indian fans and India threatened to withdraw from the third test match in Centurion.
An alternative officiating crew has been selected for Friday's test, which will not be officially recognized by the IC-C. South Africans Rudi Koertzen, Dave Orchard and Brian Jerling will now officiate the match.
England's cricket team scored 297 runs for the loss of nine wickets on the first day of a three-day match against an Indian board president's team in Hyderabad, India on Thursday.
Mark Ramprakash led the tourists with 105 runs, including nine fours and two sixes. Captain Nasser Hussain added 45 runs for the English and Mark Butcher had 41.
Left-arm spin bowler Murali Kartik led India by taking three wickets. The match is a preparation for England's three-test series against India.
Meanwhile, Australia's cricket team has scored 411 for six on the opening day of the second test match against New Zealand at Bellerive Oval in Hobart, Australia.
Justin Langer led the home side with 123 runs while Ricky Ponting added 92 not out and Matthew Hayden scored 91 runs. Daniel Vettori was the bright spot for the Kiwis, taking four wickets while allowing 99 runs in 26 overs.
The three-test series is tied at 0-0 after the first test match ended in a draw last week.
In other cricket news, Sri Lanka's team has scored 273 for eight on a rain-plagued second day of its second test match against the West Indies in Kandy.
The hosts scored 80 runs off 34 overs in the morning session, but lost three wickets to the Caribbean attack. No play was possible after lunch because rain soaked the pitch.
Sri Lanka won the opening test match by 10 wickets in Galle last week, its first test win over the West Indies. Sri Lanka leads the three match series, 1-0.