Controversial cricket umpire Darrell Hair has dropped his claim of racial discrimination against the International Cricket Council over his suspension from officiating in top-level matches and has agreed to undertake ‘rehabilitation’ now.
This involves umpiring associate country matches, laid down for him by the ICC for the remaining six months of his contract. Although Hair has remained in the elite umpiring list of the ICC, the council will now assess in a March meeting whether he can return to umpiring in top games.
Meanwhile, it is not clear what the rehabilitation program, to be drawn up by Doug Cowie, the ICC umpires manager, and David Richardson, the general manager, will involve. A program of courses to improve Hair’s man-management and communications skills was suggested last November after the ICC board passed a vote of no-confidence in Hair, but did not take place.
The 55-year-old umpire entangled himself in a controversy when he accused Pakistan of cheating against England by ball-tampering at The Oval Test between Pakistan and England last year.
Hair’s allegation prompted Pakistan to forfeit the encounter, the first such match penalty in elite cricket, and Hair was out from taking charge of any matches involving Test-playing nations since then.
Hair had alleged ethnic prejudice because he was punished for The Oval affair, while Doctrove, a West Indian, was not. While the ICC had denied the allegations, Hair had trouble providing any evidence to prove his claims. Now, Hair’s lawyer Robert Griffiths has said that his client has withdrawn his allegations of racial discrimination against the ICC board, members and the staff.
Dropping claims is a crushing blow for Hair who brought the case after the ICC stopped him officiating at Test level following his decision to abandon The Oval Test last year. Hair's case was dealt a setback when Doctrove who was due to give evidence for him, failed to turn up at the tribunal.
Although the ICC has agreed to pay their own costs as part of the settlement, but Hair is still facing a massive legal bill. Hair has also jeopardized estranging fellow umpire Rudi Koertzen by alleging that, in a private conversation with him, the South African had called the Pakistanis 'a bunch of cheats', a factor in Doctrove's non-appearance.
Interestingly, Hair has been enmeshed in some of the sport's biggest controversies. Hair is famous for no-balling Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for an illegal bowling technique in 1995. Hair called Murali's action as "diabolical" in his autobiography. Two years ago, he gave a run-out against Inzamam-ul-Haq even though the Pakistan batsman had jumped while inside his crease to evade a throw.
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