Inzaman disgusted at Hair’s reinstatement

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said he was “shocked and disgusted” by controversial umpire Darrell Hair’s reinstatement, as a former top official described the move as an insult.

Inzamam clashed with Hair in the forfeited Oval test between Pakistan and England in August 2006, which led to the Australian umpire’s ban from standing in top-level matches. “I am terribly shocked and disgusted at the news,” Inzamam said from India, where he is featuring in the Indian Cricket League.Hair was recalled to the elite panel of umpires on Tuesday after the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to reinstate him in its board meeting held in Dubai.Hair and his West Indian colleague Billy Doctrove penalised Inzamam’s Pakistan five runs for alleged ball-tampering, enraging the captain who refused to take field after tea on day four.As a result the match was awarded to England on a forfeit, the first such result in the history of the game.Inzamam was later cleared of ball-tampering but received a four-match ban for bringing the game into disrepute.Sapa-AFP”I am terribly shocked and disgusted at the news,” Inzamam said from India, where he is featuring in the Indian Cricket League.Hair was recalled to the elite panel of umpires on Tuesday after the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to reinstate him in its board meeting held in Dubai.Hair and his West Indian colleague Billy Doctrove penalised Inzamam’s Pakistan five runs for alleged ball-tampering, enraging the captain who refused to take field after tea on day four.As a result the match was awarded to England on a forfeit, the first such result in the history of the game.Inzamam was later cleared of ball-tampering but received a four-match ban for bringing the game into disrepute.Sapa-AFP