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Hair 'sacked' from Tests: reports

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MUMBAI, India -- Australian Darrell Hair has been removed from the panel of elite Test umpires after the ball-tampering row that led to Pakistan forfeiting the fourth Test against England at the Oval in August, according to agency reports.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) took the decision to drop Hair at a meeting of its executive board in Mumbai, India on Friday, an unnamed offical told the Associated Press.

Pakistan had lodged a formal complaint against Hair, who was at the center of one of the biggest controversies in the 129-year history of Test cricket with fellow umpire Billy Doctrove.

The pair docked Pakistan five runs for allegedly altering the condition of the match ball while in the field during England's second innnings.

An incensed Pakistan refused to take the field after the tea interval with the match eventually being awarded to England.

Hair, who has always vehemently denied accusations of bias against Asian Test playing nations, had offered to quit as a top-level umpire in the aftermath of the fiasco at The Oval in exchange for compensation of $500,000, but later retracted the offer.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was subsequently banned for four games by the ICC for bringing the game into disrepute but cleared of the ball tampering charges.

The two-day meeting of the ICC formally ends on Saturday, but Indian television channels also reported Hair's removal on Friday.

"Darrell Hair is unlikely to officiate in future international matches," the NDTV 24x7 channel quoted unnamed sources as saying.

The Web site of the world governing body said that ICC President Percy Sonn and Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed will hold a media conference at the conclusion of its meeting on Saturday.

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