To ICC, with love; Hair's mails out in open

London, Aug 26 (UNI) International Cricket Council (ICC) has made public Darrell Hair's e-mails unabridged in which the controversy-ridden umpire offered to quit the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires for a sum of 500,000 dollars.

The veteran match official was emboriled in row during the England-Pakistan Test at Oval when he, deeming the ball to be scratched, ordered to change it and penalised the visitors with five runs. Incensed Paksitanis failed to reappear on the ground and Hair and Billy Doctrove decided to award the match to England.

The letter, 'The way forward' is addressing ICC's Umpire and Referee manager Doug Cowie.

The Letter: From: Darrell Hair Sent: Tuesday, August 22 To: Doug Cowie Subject: The way forward Doug, just to firm up what we discussed earlier this evening. I appreciate the ICC may be put in an untenable position with regards to future appointments and having taken considerable time and advice I make this one-off, non-negotiable offer.

I am prepared to retire/stand down/relinquish my position on the elite panel to take effect from 31st August, 2006, on the following terms: 1 A one-off payment to compensate the loss of future earnings and retain a payment over the next four years which I believe would have been the best years I have to offer ICC and world umpiring. This payment is be the sum of 500,000 dollars -- details of which must be kept confidential by both parties.

This sum to be paid directly into my account by 31st August, 2006.

2 ICC may announce the retirement in any way they wish, but I would prefer a simple 'lifestyle choice' as this was the very reason I moved from Australia to settle in the UK three years ago.

3 No public comment to be made by me as to possible reasons for the decision.

4 This offer in no way precludes me taking legal action and/or instigating libel suits against various sections of the electronic and print media for comments made either previously or in the future.

5 This in no way precludes me taking civil action (and exercising my rights as a resident of the UK in any court of law and by any other avenue open to me) against any organisation or persons currently part of ICC and, in particular, members of the Pakistan cricket team and the Pakistan Cricket Board.

I reiterate this is a once-only offer and if I fail to obtain your agreement I shall continue to be available under the terms of my current contract till March 31, 2008 to fulfil umpiring appointments as and when ICC sees fit in any country at any time in any series or matches involving any affiliated teams.

I would also insist that my ongoing contracted employment continue in its current form until such time as an ICC performance assessment deems me to be no longer able to perform the duties to the high class expected of an international umpire.

Would you please let me know at your earliest convenience of your acceptance or otherwise of this offer.

Sincerely, Darrell Hair UNI XC DH PM BD1307