Hair will not stand in Trophy

Darrell Hair arrives at the Brit Oval for Inzamam-ul-Haq's disciplinary hearing

Darrell Hair will not umpire at next month’s ICC Champions Trophy in India.

The International Cricket Council decided against appointing Hair to fixtures in the tournament for “safety and security” concerns.

Pakistan and India objected to the possible appointment of Hair following the controversy surrounding last month’s abandoned Test at the Brit Oval.

An ICC spokesman said: “The decision was made on the basis of safety and security concerns for Darrell and those around him at the Champions Trophy.”

Before taking questions, Hair stressed that he was bound by the umpires’ code of conduct and unable to comment directly on the disciplinary hearing, but added: “I wish to make it clear that allegations of bias against either umpire formed no part of this case.”

Hair said he accepted the ICC’s decision not to have him umpire in the Champions Trophy but added: “Of course I wish to keep on being an umpire.

“My umpiring performance or career is on public record and if other people consider I am still good enough to umpire I will continue.

Hair inspects the ball during the controversial fourth Test

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“I umpire matches in good faith and take the decisions I feel necessary on the field.

“My contract with the ICC states I must umpire to the best of my ability and apply the laws of cricket, honestly and fairly. I’m out there doing my best.”

Hair has been in the spotlight since the abandoned match at the Brit Oval when he penalised Pakistan five runs for ball tampering.

The match did not continue after Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq kept his team off the field in protest.

Inzamam was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute but cleared of ball tampering at a hearing at the Brit Oval, chaired by the ICC’s senior match referee, Ranjan Madugalle.
Inzamam has been banned for four one-day internationals for his actions, pending an appeal.

Hair admitted it has been a difficult time for him but would be willing to officiate in a Pakistan match again.

He said: “I don’t have a problem umpiring any cricket match anywhere in the world.

Hair emphasised that he is keen to continue umpiring

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“If you can’t learn to handle criticism you shouldn’t be out there. I will still go out there and do my umpiring to the best of my ability. I’m pretty bloody good at it.”

Hair added: “The laws of cricket are there for everyone and for us to adhere to.

“If there is a bad law, people can say it is poorly constructed and I am sure the law-makers will look at it.

“If a mistake’s been made, that’s fine, but when I make that mistake in good faith I have to be happy with it.”

E-mails published by the ICC after the Test revealed Hair had offered to stand down in return for a one-off payment of US $500,000 to cover the remainder of his contract.

Hair said: “It may well have been an ill-advised thing to do at the time but I have already admitted that.”

Hair insists he has no problem with Inzamam, adding: “I will be the first to shake hands. I want that to happen.”