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| September 26, 2006 | Tuesday | Ramazan 2, 1427 |
All Oval Test officials to attend hearing
LONDON, Sept 25: All the match officials who officiated in the controversial Oval Test between Pakistan and England early last month will be attending the two-day hearing of Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq over charges of ball-tampering and bringing the game into disrepute, starting on Wednesday.
The hearing is to be conducted by the ICC chief referee, Ranjan Madugalle.
The ICC has confirmed that all four umpires on duty for the Oval Test will attend the hearing including on-field umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove alongwith Peter Hartley and Trevor Jesty who provided off the field back-up.
The fourth Test in August ended in an unprecedented forfeiture by the tourists following Hair and Doctrove's decision to penalise them for ball-tampering.
Madugalle, a former Sri Lankan Test batsman, will consider testimony and written statements from witnesses, many directly involved with events which culminated in the abandonment of the Test after Pakistan were deemed to have refused to play on after tea on the fourth day.
He is, however, not expected to reveal his findings until Friday. Also present at the hearing will be Oval match referee Mike Procter and ICC umpires and referees manager Doug Cowie, who was at the match on the day in question.
Pakistan's other representatives in the hearing besides Inzamam are to include team coach Bob Woolmer and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Shaharyar Khan.
Their legal team will be headed by London-based lawyer, Mark Gay.
In addition, Ahmed Hussein, a Lahore-based lawyer, has traveled with Inzamam and will be part of the legal team in London. Madugalle will be accompanied by the ICC's lawyer, David Pannick QC.
Meanwhile, The Independent reported on Sunday that former Test cricketer Geoffrey Boycott, former umpire John Hampshire and TV analyst Simon Hughes will also appear as expert witnesses in relation to the ball tampering charge.
Since the code of conduct was introduced for players in 1992 — just as Inzamam was making a mark on the world game — the Pakistan captain has faced charges ten times already. Since becoming captain in 2003, this is the sixth time he will come up against the ICC to defend himself against charges. —Agencies
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