Hair sues ICC, PCB for racial discrimination

Controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair, center, officiates at the match between Kenya and Scotland during the ICC World Cricket League Division 1 finals at the Gymkhana Sports Club in Nairobi yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Umpire Darrell Hair is suing both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), claiming racial discrimination, after he was prevented from appearing at Test matches, the BBC reported yesterday.

Although Hair's contract as a top official continues until next year, he is now only allowed to officiate at matches between non-Test nations and he believes he is being wrongfully targeted following the ball-tampering row during the forfeited Oval Test last summer between England and Pakistan.

Billy Doctrove, who officiated in the same match, has already returned to his umpiring duties.

PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf said he was aghast when told of what Hair intended to do.

"This is adding insult to injury. Race has nothing to do with this," Ashraf told BBC Radio 4's Today program.

"Mr Hair was removed from the elite panel of umpires by the full ICC board, which has many countries, because of his poor judgement. This is the most preposterous thing I have heard. This is another manifestation of Mr Hair's mental status," Ashraf said.

Hair believes that the PCB, by urging the ICC to suspend him in the run-up to a meeting in November, discriminated against him.

Officials at the ICC had stated prior to the November meeting that they were hopeful Hair would remain on their elite umpire panel.