Discussed cash demand with ICC before e-mailing, claims Hair

Sydney, Aug 27 (UNI) Asserting that his e-mail to ICC asking for money to quit umpiring was not a ''spur-of-the-moment'' decision, Darrell Hair revealed that he made the demand after discussing the matter with the governing body's officials.

''It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment thing. I had dialogue with them.

That was understood. I didn't do it off the cuff,'' Hair told the Brisbane 'Courier Mail'.

The controversial umpire clarified that the offer was not a shocking one for the ICC as the Umpires and Refrees manager Doug Cowie, to whom the mail was addressed, had said that the cash-for-resignation demand had ''merit''.

''(Umpires' boss) Doug Cowie even said in his email reply to my offer that the proposal had merit,'' Hair claimed.

The Aussie had earlier issued a statement saying that the mail was sent at a difficult time for him and he intended no malice.

''This correspondence was composed at a very difficult time and was revoked after a period of serious consideration. There was no malicious intent,'' he had said in a statement yesterday.

The newspaper said Hair refused to make any definitive statement on his future after the controversy comes up for an ICC hearing this weekend.

''Let's address one thing at a time,'' he told the daily when asked about his future plans.

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