No objection to Darrel Hair's appointment for U-19 World Cup: PCB

Lahore, Jan 31 (UNI) Taking a conciliatory stand, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today said that it has no objection with controversial Australian Umpire Darrel Hair's appointment by the ICC the U-19 cricket World Cup to be played in Malaysia next month.

Pakistan is the defending U-19 World champion.

Hair had become controversial after declaring the Oval Test as forfeited in favor of England in 2006, following Pakistan's refusal to continue the match after Hair had accused the visitors of ball tempering, a charge that was never proved.

When asked if PCB would have any objection, if Hair was assigned to supervise Pakistan's match in the U-19 World Cup starting from February 17, PCB spokesman Dr Ahsan Hameed Malik said since ICC is firm that Hair would not stand in International matches, PCB does not have any problems with the recent appointment of the Australian umpire for the Under-19 World Cup as it was not part of International cricket.

''It is decided by the ICC that Hair will not stand in International matches and I can not jump the guns whether Hair would stand or not but Hair was an ICC employee and it can appoint him in the ICC U-19 World Cup as it was not the International level cricket,'' claimed Malik.

However, former CEO PCB, Arif Ali Khan has asserted that U-19 World Cup was the competition run by the ICC.

''If ICC says Hair can not stand in International matches, it does include the U-19 World Cup and therefore, Hair can not stand in U-19 World Cup, let alone in Pakistani matches.'' UNI XC HSB RAR KP2023