January 10, 2008	Thursday	Zilhaj 30, 1428

SYDNEY, Jan 9: Former Australian umpire Darrel Hair, who has seen more than his share of controversies, came out in support of Steve Bucknor, saying the International Cricket Council (ICC) should embrace an umpiring referral system to relieve pressure on the game’s decision-makers.

“I feel for Steve. It’s probably best for him to stand down and relieve pressure a little bit,” Hair was quoted as saying by The Age.

Hair has been in a similar situation Bucknor is facing now. The Australian adjudicator was barred from officiating in Test matches after the forfeited Oval Test between England and Pakistan in August 2006.

If Bucknor is removed from the ICC Elite Panel, Hair could conceivably fill the breach.

He was adamant the ICC should take lessons from the Sydney Test to investigate ways to relieve pressure on the umpires.—Agencies