India against Hair appointment

India cricket bosses have asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) not to allow controversial umpire Darrell Hair to officiate in the forthcoming Champions Trophy.

India are hosting the tournament, which is due to begin on October 7, and the country’s cricket board (BCCI) have increased speculation over Hair’s future by making their appeal to the game’s governing body.

Hair was at the centre of the first forfeit in the history of Test cricket when Pakistan failed to take the field against England in the fourth Test between the two sides in August, following his decision to penalise them for ball-tampering.

That incident, as well as his subsequent offer to resign in exchange for a cash pay-off, caused a furore.

"We have written a letter to the ICC asking them not to appoint Hair for the Champions Trophy," BCCI secretary Niranajan Shah confirmed ahead of the board’s AGM in Mumbai.

"The media focus will be on him, plus there are also chances of crowd trouble during the matches in which he is there. We, as a host, would not want that," Shah added.

Pakistan have already said they would prefer Hair not to stand in any of their future matches but earlier this month, the 53-year-old was confident of his chances of appearing.

He told the Courier Mail in Brisbane: “Yes, I am down to umpire in the Champions Trophy and I expect to fulfil that appointment.

“I'm not sure what matches I'll be doing but I'm looking forward to it.”