CATEGORY:SPORTS (CRICKET)
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By Wallace J.A
Inside Grenada correspondent
Sunday November 05,2006


THE UMPIRE who has been at the center of the ‘ball-tampering’ controversy between Pakistan and England in August of this year, Darrell Hair, will not be officiating in any more international cricket matches involving ICC full members. This is as a result of a decision taken by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Darrell Hair (who is Australian but has been residing in England for some years now) along with his colleague Billy Doctrove (from the West Indies), took the unprecedented decision of calling off a cricket match at the Oval (England) and awarding victory to the English cricket team when the Pakistan cricketers refused to take the field after the tea interval on day four of the test match.

The decision by the Pakistan team to forfeit the cricket match came on the heels of a judgment made by Hair (after consulting Doctrove), to replace the cricket ball that was in use with another one and awarding a five run penalty to the English team.

This was done because he (Hair) was of the opinion that the Pakistan cricketers were ‘tampering’ with the cricket ball which was allowing their bowlers to get ‘an unfair amount of reverse swing.’

The Pakistan team was obviously displeased with the decision and resented the aspersions that were cast on their integrity. Consequently, after the tea break, the team (led by captain Inzamam-ul-Haq) refused to take the field and complete the game thereby forfeiting the match.

Inzamam was subsequently brought before an ICC select committee to answer to the charges of ball tampering and bringing the game into disrepute. He was cleared of the ball tampering charges but was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute. A four match ban was slapped on him.

The Oval controversy unleashed a wave of criticism against Hair from around the world, but especially from the Asian sub continent. Allegations were even made that Hair was biased against Asian cricketers. To compound the matter, news surfaced that Hair had offered his resignation to the ICC in return for US$500,000. The offer was subsequently revoked.

Billy Doctrove, who appeared to be the junior umpire in the controversial decision, maintained a very low profile which may have assisted him in escaping the wrath that rained down on his colleague. He was not discussed by the ICC board and, unlike his colleague, his status remains unchanged.

Following the Oval fiasco, both Hair and Doctrove were omitted from umpiring in the ICC Championship trophy in India. ICC chief executive, Malcolm Speed said: “I had hoped we could find a way for Darrell to continue umpiring at the top level.” ICC president, Percy Sonn added that “… It was clear that from discussions the ICC board has lost confidence in Darrell Hair.”

Hair (who is age 54) lives in Lincoln, England. His contract as an ICC elite umpire runs until March 2008 but upon expiration, he would not be offered a new one. Whether Hair will receive his full pay until the end of his contractual period his a matter that is in the hands of lawyers.