LONDON, Aug 21: Pakistan have lodged a protest with the ICC after the world governing body charged captain Inzamam-ul-Haq on Monday with ball tampering and bringing the game into disrepute.

Pakistan forfeited the fourth and final Test at The Oval on Sunday when they failed to take the field after being docked five runs for ball tampering.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan told a news conference the board had asked the ICC to set up an independent inquiry but promised to go ahead with the five-match one-day series and a Twenty20 game starting next week.

Shaharyar said the PCB had also asked the ICC to ensure that Australian umpire Darrell Hair did not officiate in any more matches involving Pakistan. “We have had problems with Mr Hair before,” he said.

“The team have lost confidence in him. Our team has a problem with his attitude on the field. “That attitude has upset our people more than once.”

Shaharyar said a meeting including, match referee Mike Procter and representatives of the two boards, had resolved to resume the Test on Monday but the umpires had remained “intransigent”.

“It was a grievous blow to the spirit of cricket and the spirit that was prevailing at the meeting,” he said.

“The team is deeply indignant at the way the ball-tampering accusation was brought to the team. They felt there was a slur on the reputation of the Pakistan team and a slur on Pakistan itself.”

The chairman added that the team had assured him that no one had tampered with the ball and he said he was “absolutely convinced” that was the case.

“The PCB considers that yesterday's forfeiture was unwarranted and avoidable, that the sport was harmed and that with a little bit of flexibility we could have overcome this hitch that led to the forfeiture,” he said. “The fact that this flexibility was not shown by the umpires is of grave concern to us.”

Shaharyar said he would not comment further on the ball tampering charge while the PCB waited for a ruling from Procter.

“It will be given in due course,” he said.

But he said ball tampering was not an issue which should depend on the subjective opinion of an umpire. “It's highly inflammatory to state that a team is virtually cheating,” he said.—Reuters