In a transparent attempt to appease the Indian cricket board, the International Cricket Council today announced that Sachin Tendulkar's offence in the second Test against South Africa was cleaning the ball without the umpire's permission rather than ball tampering.
"It's still an offence but it's not as serious as ball tampering," said ICC spokesman Mark Harrison.
Tendulkar was given a suspended one-match ban by English umpire Mike Denness, causing uproar in India and the political row which sees next week's first Test against England under threat.
The current crisis involving Virender Sehwag all stems from the punishment given to Tendulakar, who is revered as a god in India. The Indian Board refused to accept Denness as the match referee for the third test against South Africa which was then declared unofficial by the ICC.
India have been given until 6:30am [GMT] tomorrow by the ICC to announce whether Sehwag will play in the first test against England, and this latest development is a clear attempt to try and diffuse the tension.
The ICC and the Indian board are set on collision course which could have dramatic consequences for the future on international cricket. If India insist on picking Sehwag, the ICC will make the match unofficial, which could lead to England going home.