Hair vows to carry on

Darrell Hair claims he has coped with criticism of his actions since the fourth Test

Darrell Hair insists he still has the support of his International Cricket Council employers despite not being appointed for next month's ICC Champions Trophy in India.

As a member of the ICC's elite panel of umpires, Hair would have been an automatic pick for the tournament but he has been withdrawn by the ICC for “safety and security concerns” following his role the controversial ending to the summer’s final Test between Pakistan and England last month.

Hair was seen as the leading figure in accusing Pakistan of ball tampering, provoking them to fail to return to the field after tea on the fourth day and causing a Test to be forfeited for the first time in history.

His belief that the ball had been tampered with was not upheld at the two-day disciplinary hearing, which found Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq not guilty of ball tampering but banned him for four one-day internationals for bringing the game into disrepute.

That outcome followed the ICC's decision to make public confidential e-mails between Hair and Doug Cowie, the ICC umpires and referees' manager, when the Australian official requested a US $500,000 pay-off.

Hair arrives at the Brit Oval on the day he was withdrawn from the Champions Trophy

But, after the verdict was handed down, Hair insisted relations between him and his employers were still cordial, even if he did not agree with their decision to make the e-mails public.

Asked if he had been hung out to dry by the ICC, Hair stressed: “That could be the public perception but I don't believe that.

"I don't feel that at all but that is obviously a perception that people will perpetuate.

“There is a support structure within the ICC which has been working well with me in that period.

“I believe - as I always have - that conversations and correspondence between employer and employee should remain confidential and nothing that has happened in the ensuing few weeks has changed that.

“It happened and I still believe those letters should have been kept confidential, but the fact they weren't is neither here nor there - that's water under the bridge.”

Hair stressed he has never thought about resigning as an umpire during the last few weeks and, despite the verdict, is confident he can continue in the job.

“I don't believe my authority has been undermined. That's why there is a code of conduct and a due process to go through,” he said.

“I'm out there doing my best and I of course I want to continue being an umpire. I have never contemplated resigning.

Hair, far from being alone, insists he has the backing of the ICC © Getty Images

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“I've umpired since 1985 and from the day I started my career was in the hands of other people.

“People make assessments of my performance on a ball-by-ball and day-by-day basis and that doesn't change when you become an international umpire.

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

“I think I am good enough to continue because I'm pretty bloody good at it.”

Hair, who has officiated in 76 Tests, insisted he can handle the pressure and the criticism which is bound to follow and has not yet been given any indication when his next appointment will come.

But he stressed: “The first thing we learn about being an official - and it doesn't matter if you're a cricket official or a rugby official or whatever - is to expect criticism.

“You are going to get criticism. If I can't learn how to handle criticism then I shouldn't be out there.

“I've handled it for 21 years and I can still handle criticism when it's justified and I can still handle criticism when it's unjustified.

“I will still go out there and do my umpiring to the best of my ability.”