April 12, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1429

KARACHI, April 11: Former Pakistan Test captain Asif Iqbal has criticised the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to reinstate controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair.

“I cannot convince myself that this decision (of the ICC to reinstate Hair) is in any way in the best interests of the game, for it carries potential of conflict and much unpleasantness both on and off the field,” the 58-Test veteran said.

“Pakistan is not the only Asian side that feels less than comfortable when he is officiating. Why must a man who makes some teams uncomfortable be forced on them?

“Surely, principle must be to appoint someone who enjoys confidence of both contesting teams. It is this principle that brought about the entire concept of the Elite Panel of umpires,” he added.

Hair, 55, has not taken charge of a match featuring high-profile teams since the forfeited Oval Test in August 2006 involving England and Pakistan. “Quite apart from the argument whether someone who was found on the basis of ICC code of conduct inquiry to have got it so horribly wrong at The Oval and then proposed a financial payoff to walk away from it all can ever be regarded as an Elite umpire.

“The fact that some international sides clearly have problems with him should be enough to keep him out of the Panel,” lamented Asif.

“The ICC’s decision becomes even more difficult to understand in light of its own admission that in all probability, Hair will not be appointed to stand in a match featuring Pakistan.”

—Agencies