Cricket: Paul Collingwood faces a ban from international cricket due to England's slow over rate in yesterday's controversial one-wicket defeat by New Zealand at the Brit Oval.
The England captain, 32, will be banned for a minimum of four one-day internationals or two Tests — or a combination of the two forms of the game — after being found guilty of a level three offence in the International Cricket Council's code of conduct.
Flanked by coach Peter Moores and operations manager Phil Neale at an after-match hearing last night, Collingwood was told of his potential punishment by match referee Javagal Srinath.
It carries such severity because this is Collingwood's second such offence within a 12-month period. He was fined 50 per cent of his match fee following the contest against India in Bristol last August.
As on that occasion, England were three overs down when their time allotment for bowling their 50 overs elapsed.
Former Indian pace bowler Srinath will deliver his verdict this afternoon.
Collingwood, who felt it necessary to publicly apologise for his decision not to reprieve a floored Grant Elliott after his run-out last night, can appeal in writing within 24 hours of the verdict.
If Collingwood misses the final match of the NatWest Series on Saturday, England will have to appoint a stand-in captain, with Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Alastair Cook the main contenders.