Print

Mail

wiki links

ICC reinstates controversial umpire

"[The ICC] believes Darrell Hair is a very good and competent umpire."

David Morgan, ICC president-elect

Darrell Hair has been reinstated as a Test match umpire by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Hair had been banned since November 2006 because of his conduct during a Test between Pakistan and England that led to the first forfeit in Test cricket's 129-year history.

His return comes after he completed a so-called "rehabilitation program" in September when he agreed to drop a claim of racial discrimination by the ICC.

"[The ICC] believes Darrell Hair is a very good and competent umpire," ICC president-elect David Morgan said of the unanimous decision. "He will be allocated Test matches and one day internationals by the new system with immediate effect."

Hair is unlikely to officiate at matches involving Pakistan an ICC official said yesterday.

ICC general manager Dave Richardson said the world governing body would act to prevent Hair from standing in matches involving Pakistan.

"We would have to take a sensible approach," Richardson told the BBC. "We will probably keep him away from Pakistan matches where we can."

Hair accused Pakistan of ball tampering and, when the team refused to take the field after a break, he and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove awarded the forfeit. The umpire, who is white, was angered by the fact that he was banned while black umpire Doctrove largely escaped censure.

Although Hair was never removed from the ICC's elite panel, which provides the umpires for Test matches, he was told he would not be appointed to top level games.

Hair has since officiated in one-day internationals involving non Test-playing countries, most recently Ireland against Scotland last July, and is contracted to the ICC until March next year.

The ICC executive board also decided to reduce the number of teams at the next Cricket World Cup in 2011 -- from 16 to 14 -- after widespread criticism of last year's tournament, which lasted more than six weeks.

Morgan said the tournament will be "significantly shortened."

Also at the two-day meeting the ICC discussed allowing the increased use of technology in referrals of disputed decisions to the TV umpire.

Morgan said this would be tested at Test matches between England and South Africa later this year if both countries agreed.
This story has been viewed 912 times.