DUBAI, Jan 24: The International Cricket Council (ICC) will consider whether to extend the role of match referees following the rumpus that surrounded umpire Darrell Hair’s actions in last year’s Test between England and Pakistan.

The ICC said on Wednesday that this week's meeting in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, would consider whether the referee should be responsible for making decisions on the termination of a match.The body's executive board recommended looking at the match referee's role at its meeting in Mumbai in November, when Hair was banned from officiating at matches after his actions resulted in the first forfeit in Test cricket’s 129-year history.

Hair accused Pakistan of ball-tampering during the fourth Test at The Oval in August. Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq protested his team being penalized five runs by refusing to come on the field immediately after the tea break, despite being called by Hair.

Hair awarded the match to England.

Any extension of the match referee's powers would avoid a repeat of the incident and give the decision on forfeiture to an official removed from sometimes heated exchanges between and with teams.

“It is often perceived that the referee is an official of a type used in many other sports,” ICC general manager David Richardson said. “The reality is that the match referee is the chief executive of an international cricket match who is responsible for liaising with the teams, the boards, the venue and other stakeholders to ensure the smooth running of a match.

“It is therefore suggested that, while the on-field role of the umpires shall not be undermined, the match referee should have the final say on the termination of a match.”

Hair was subsequently banned from umpiring international matches by the ICC.

Inzamam was cleared of ball-tampering although the ICC banned him for four One-day Internationals for bringing the game into disrepute.

The subject of anti-doping in international cricket is also on the agenda of the meeting, which starts on Thursday.—Agencies