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| August 23, 2006 | Wednesday | Rajab 27, 1427 |
Hair stands by his decision
SYDNEY, Aug 22: Australian umpire Darrell Hair is standing by his decision to penalise Pakistan at the Oval on Sunday and said he would fight any move to oust him. In his first interview since he and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove abandoned the final Test against England after Pakistan failed to take the field immediately after tea in a row over ball tampering, Hair said he felt his actions were necessary.
“People who know me and the sort of person I am know I would not take any action unless I really thought it was necessary,” Hair told Wednesday's Sydney Daily Telegraph.
“I stand by what I have done but if anything comes out at the inquiry that proves me incorrect I would accept that too.
The process would have been followed.
“The International Cricket Council have given me outstanding support and it has really been appreciated.”
After inspecting the match ball during the afternoon session on Sunday, Hair accused the Pakistan team of ball tampering and penalised them five runs.
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq kept his team in the dressing room after the tea interval in protest.
Pakistan, who were in a strong position to win, emerged some time later but but Hair and Doctrove would not return.
Hair, who has been involved in a few controversies with players from Asian nations in recent years, said he had no problems umpiring Pakistan, India, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka.
“There is no problem with me and the subcontinent. I have umpired quite a lot in the subcontinent over the last couple of years and when the ICC have asked me to do a job I try and do it to the best of my ability,” the Australian said.
“If people want to try and force me out of the game it has to be done in some shape or form that I am unaware of because I am contracted to do a job and I know I am doing it quite well at the moment so far as the ins and outs are concerned,” Hair told the paper.
“If other people have issues they want to use to force me out it will be an interesting battle.”—Reuters
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