In a development that may not be to the liking of Indian team, Technical Delegate Ramesh Appoo has imposed two match suspension on Indian defender and Olympian Surender Kumar, effectively sealing him the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy, as India is left with only two matches in Kuantan (semifinal and final).

Effective part of the Official communique says this:

‘In the 49th minute, Surender was shown a yellow card by umpire Grime Murray for an off the ball incident in which Surender lifted his stick in an inappropriate manner thereby causing his stick to hit the chin of Malaysia player No.19

‘Surender accepted that the reported conduct constituted a level 2 offence under the FIH Code of Conduct.

Having considered all the evidence before me including the explanation which was given by Surender, I have imposed on him, with immediate effect, a two match suspension’.

In the same stroke, on a different hearing this morning, Appoo also suspended a Malaysian player: “Ashari Firhan was also suspended for a match for deliberate physical contact by extending his elbow into the body of an Indian player No.27 in an off the ball incident …..a Level one offence… I have imposed on Ashri Firhan one match suspension”.

Firhan will not be playing today’s match for Malaysia, which is against Korea.