The teleconference involved Gibbs, his legal representative, ICC match referee Chris Broad, a legal representative acting on his behalf and Benaud, Australia's nominee as a Code of Conduct Commissioner, who is acting as the Appeals Commissioner in this matter.

ICC In-House Lawyer Urvasi Naidoo was also present on the call in an administrative capacity, said an ICC release issued here today.

Benaud has the power to increase, decrease, amend or otherwise substitute his own decision from that made at the previous hearing, and his decision will be final and binding.

Gibbs is appealing against the ban imposed after the match referee found him guilty of a Level 3 offence, which prohibits "...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."

The charge relates to an incident that took place shortly before the lunch interval on Sunday, the fourth day of the first Test between South Africa and Pakistan at Centurion, when Gibbs' comments were overheard through a stump microphone on the ground.

However, Gibbs apologized for the remark later, but pleaded not guilty to the charge.