Darrell Hair hires leading lawyer to bail him out

Sydney, Nov 20 (UNI) In a clear indication that he was moving the court after ICC scratched him off the umpires' panel, Darrell Hair has hired a leading lawyer from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) to revive his international career.

Hair is also in negotiation with the International Cricket Council (ICC) but the burly Australian refused to disclose details of his interaction with the governing body.

''I am still trying to work a few things out,'' Hair was quoted as saying by The Australian.

''I can only say that I am extremely disappointed at the decision made by the ICC to remove me from the elite panel of umpires. I am considering my position and you will therefore appreciate that at this stage it would not be appropriate for me to comment further except to express my gratitude to all those who continue to show support for me,'' he said.

Hair was contracted until March 2008 and his premature exit from the panel might turn into a case of breach of contract.

Though the umpire in the eye of the storm refused to elaborate further, his brother Denis told the newpapers thar Darrell still thinks himself competent enough for top-level umpiring for the next few years.

''He won't be satisfied unless he can gain reinstatement to the panel,'' Denis said.

He also confirmed that his brother had received offers to officiate at county level in England and state level in Australia.

Recently, Hair was voted the best umpire in the world by readers of the Wisden Cricketer magazine.

''I suppose it is a bit of a shock,'' Hair told the magazine.

''But if free-thinking people want to vote that way and they do believe I've done the job as well as anybody, or even better, I can accept that fact it's a great vote of confidence,'' he argued.

Hair had levelled ball-tampering charges against Pakistan in the Oval Test against England and the Inzamam-ul Haq's side refused to play further, leading the match to be awarded to the hosts.

Subsequently, ICC voted 7-3 in its recent Mumbai meeting to dump Hair from the elite panel and the decision was opposed only by England, New Zealand and Australia.

ICC, meanwhile, revealed that Hair had offered to quit from the panel for 5,00,000 dollar.

''It has been a very harrowing time for him considering all he was doing was his job. We as a family are upset and distressed by the accusations which have been made against him when all he was doing was upholding the laws of the game. His reward has been accusations of racism,'' Denis Hair rued.

UNI XC AY SAM DS1450