LONDON, 26 August 2006 — Umpire Darrell Hair offered to resign if the ICC paid him $500,000 following his ball-tampering claims against Pakistan that caused the fourth Test against England to be forfeited.
ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed revealed that he “did not for one second” think of accepting the offer e-mailed by the 53-year-old Australian two days after Sunday’s forfeit.
On the fourth day of the final test at The Oval, Hair and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove ruled that Pakistan illegally interfered with the ball and imposed a five-run penalty.
The visitors protested by not coming out after the tea break and the test was awarded to England, which won the series 3-0.
Hair’s e-mail said that the secret payment would compensate for “loss of future earnings and retainer payments over the next four years” and asked the ICC to announce his retirement as a “lifestyle choice.” ICC umpires and referees manager Doug Cowie wrote to Hair to say his suggestion “may have merit.” But Speed later emailed that the suggestion was “entirely inappropriate.” Hair rescinded his offer.
“Darrell Hair was under great stress when he wrote these letters, and I am confident that Darrell Hair had no dishonest, underhand or malice intent — he was seeking to find a solution in the interests of the game,” Speed said yesterday.
“I don’t believe he saw it as an opportunity to make money. In no way did he indicate that his decisions on Sunday were in any way incorrect.” Speed met with Hair, whose contract runs until March 2008, yesterday.
“I told Darrell he is not sacked, not suspended, and has not been charged,” Speed said. “But I couldn’t guarantee each of those positions could be maintained indefinitely.”
Hair said his e-mails were “composed after a very difficult time.” “There was no malicious intent behind this communication with the ICC,” Hair said in a statement.
“I am anxious that the code of conduct hearing takes place as soon as possible so these matters can be resolved and allow me to move on with my umpiring.” Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has been charged with ball-tampering and for bringing the game into disrepute — sparking fears that Pakistan would withdraw from the five-match one-day series that starts next week.
Inzamam’s hearing was due to have been heard yesterday, but adjudicator Ranjan Madugalle was unable to attend and Speed confirmed that it will now be held in September at a date to be determined.
Speed said he’d released the correspondence on legal advice it could be relevant to Inzamam’s case. The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed to the International Cricket Council that Monday’s Twenty20 match and the following one-day series will go ahead as scheduled.
“The PCB have always said they were going to continue with the series if they could have,” ICC president Percy Sonn said. “I have had a meeting with PCB chairman Shahriyar Khan and ECB chairman David Morgan and I have been assured the tour continues as scheduled.”
