Pakistan greats want Hair removed from elite panel

ISLAMABAD, Sep 28 (Reuters) Former Pakistan greats rounded on Australian umpire Darrell Hair today, demanding his removal from the elite panel of umpires after the International Cricket Council (ICC) adjudicator cleared Inzamam-ul-Haq of ball-tampering charges.

Pakistan refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day of the fourth test against England at The Oval last month after Hair and West Indian umpire Billy Doctrove penalised them five runs for ball tampering.

England were awarded the match on a forfeit and captain Inzamam was subsequently charged with ball-tampering and bringing the game into disrepute by the ICC.

He was cleared of the first charge because of a lack of sufficient evidence but banned for four one-dayers on the second charge today at an ICC hearing at The Oval.

The ban will rule him out of the prestigious Champions Trophy next month in India.

''I think it would be advisable and sensible for the ICC to now drop Hair from the elite panel of umpires. He has now become too controversial a figure,'' former Pakistan captain, Javed Miandad told Reuters.

''I don't think Hair will now be in a position to umpire any future international matches confidently. He is going to be under pressure and every decision of his can be challenged,'' Miandad, who played 124 tests, added.

Hair, who was not appointed for the Champions Trophy on Thursday, told a news conference at the ICC hearing that he still wanted to carry on umpiring.

Miandad said the four-match ban on Inzamam was an expected one given the seriousness of the issue.

''I was expecting a ban of more matches. But it is good the ball-tampering charge has been dropped,'' he said.

Another former Pakistan skipper, Rashid Latif, also felt that Hair is now in a difficult position.

''The ruling of the adjudicator means that Hair was wrong in accusing the Pakistanis of ball-tampering without proper evidence. He is now always going to be under the scanner,'' he said.

The Pakistani Cricket Board (PCB) and Inzamam said on Thursday that they will not appeal the four-match ban, although former pace bowler Wasim Akram said they should.

''When the ball-tampering charges have been dismissed then why the ban,'' he said. ''Pakistan were only reacting to a false accusation of being cheats,'' he said.

REUTERS DH KP2121