Referee Clive Lloyd’s decision to suspend Sourav Ganguly should have been respected, according to Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan. “It is an insult to the former West Indies captain,” Khan told Mid Day at the Cricket Club of India yesterday.The Indian captain was supposed to miss the two-Test rubber against South Africa after Lloyd banned him for a slow over-rate in the BCCI’s Platinum Jubilee match in Kolkata on Saturday.But the International Cricket Council decided to consider the Indian cricket board’s request for a re-think. Ganguly will play the Proteas in the first Test at Kanpur on November 20 though he is not out of danger. “Look, rules are rules,” Khan roared. “What’s the point of making laws and placing referees, when the ICC overrules them, as and when they wish?” Khan also backed Lloyd for his discretion. “He is one of the most lenient referees in the game. He must have considered all the circumstances before taking the decision,” the former diplomat said. “Of course, there was a lot of dew, besides some players needing assistance after suffering from cramps. But Lloyd must have taken these factors into consideration.” Meanwhile, Ganguly has been given the ‘go-ahead’ to play the Kanpur Test yesterday after the ICC Appeals Commission adjourned the hearing on his appeal against the ban. The decision on his appeal was deferred after Tim Castle – the Appeals Commissioner appointed to adjudicate on the case – decided to hold a scheduled teleconference with the Indian captain after the match