Bell keen to end Oval furore

Darrell Hair, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood await the arrival of Pakistan © Getty Images

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Ian Bell hopes Inzamam-ul-Haq’s two-day disciplinary hearing starting at The Brit Oval on Wednesday will finally put an end to last month’s final Test controversy.

The Warwickshire man was caught in the centre of the storm as one of England’s unbeaten batsman when Pakistan set a chain of events in motion which led to a match being forfeited for the first time in Test history.

Pakistan’s actions in refusing to resume after tea on the fourth day, in protest at being accused of ball-tampering by on-field umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove, also led to Inzamam facing two charges of breaching the International Cricket Council Code of Conduct.

Inzamam will defend his actions in the hearing having been charged as captain with changing the condition of the ball and bringing the game into disrepute - which could result in a ban from international cricket if he is found guilty.

But whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation, Bell is keen for cricket to move on from the incident and consign the distasteful end to the Test series to history.

“It was very strange and something that, as a team, we didn’t really know what was quite going because we weren’t really involved - it was between Pakistan and the umpires,” said Bell.

Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood and the umpires discuss issues

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“You know roughly what the rules are so it was very strange to be out there with no fielders in front of a full house at The Oval at a real crucial time in the game and it’s something we don’t really want to see again.”

Bell has been asked about his views of the incident, but claims he had little knowledge of any alleged ball-tampering and, as such, his testimony is unlikely to help either side at the hearing.

“It would be really difficult for me to give my opinion when I never saw the ball and never really know what was said,” he stressed.

“It would be really difficult to give my opinion on what I don’t really know 100%.”

Bell is one of a number of people involved in the game who have been asked their version of events, while several key witnesses will be called to the closed hearing being chaired by senior match referee Ranjan Madugalle.

All four umpires on duty for the Test will attend the hearing in addition to match referee Mike Procter and ICC umpires and referees manager Doug Cowie, who was present on the day in question.

Pakistan’s representatives are expected to include Inzamam alongside coach Bob Woolmer and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan, who was a key figure throughout the day.

Their case will be aided by expert barrister Mr Mark Gay. The umpires will also have legal representation, while Madugalle will assisted by Mr David Pannick QC.

With lawyers involved on all sides, the hearing is expected to last both days and Madugalle, who has 24 hours to announce his decision on the hearing, is most likely to deliver his verdict on Friday.