Rameez Raja says PCB at fault for Hair's reinstatement

Lahore, Mar 20 (UNI) Coming down heavily on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), former captain Ramiz Raja said the board did not play it's part and allowed the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reinstate controversial umpire Darrell Hair.

''The decision of Hair's recall shows the PCB's lack of presence at international forums,'' Raja was quoted as saying by The Daily Times.

The ICC reinstated the 55-year-old Hair in the elite panel of umpires after it's board meeting in Dubai on March 17-18.

He will now be allowed to officiate in Tests and one-day internationals involving full-member nations.

''It is surprising that Hair was reinstated without being tried and tested. It shows that the international community is ready to walk over Pakistan whenever they want,'' he added.

Hair was removed from the elite panel of umpires after his charges of ball-tampering against the Pakistan team, at the Oval Test in August 2006, were proved false.

Meanwhile, PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf has dismissed Raja's claims and said the board did everything it could on the issue.

''We have made our views clear to the ICC on Hair. The entire matter was thoroughly discussed at the meeting and this is a wrong impression that the PCB was weak on this issue,'' he said.

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