Hair drops race claim
Umpire Darrell Hair has cleared the air with the ICC
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Tuesday, 09, Oct 2007 05:31
Umpire Darryl Hair has withdrawn his claim against the International Cricket Council (ICC) for racial discrimination.
The Australian was dropped from the ICC's elite officials list in 2006 following the controversial abandoned Test match between England and Pakistan at the Oval.
Hair, along with fellow umpire Billy Doctrove, penalised the touring side five runs for alleged ball-tampering.
In protest at the perceived unjust nature of the penalty, the Pakistani team refused to emerge immediately after tea which resulted in the umpires declaring the Test forfeit, awarding it to England to secure a 3-0 series victory.
Following an investigation into the affair, Hair was dropped from the umpires list while his West Indian counterpart who was standing in the Test was not and the Australian claimed this was based on racial discrimination.
Hair has now apparently had a change of heart, however.
"Darrell Hair withdraws unconditionally his allegation of racial discrimination against the ICC board, members and staff," said his lawyer Robert Griffiths QC.
"Mr Hair has undertaken to work with ICC management in accordance with the rehabilitation programme over the next six months."
The move may mean Hair is allowed to return to umpiring next March, although it will be in matches involving non Test-playing nations at first.
ICC president Ray Mali said he is "pleased the issue has been resolved", adding: "We had no option but to defend these serious allegations."