Umpire Hair restored to Test status

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Australian Darrell Hair has been reinstated as a Test match umpire by the International Cricket Council following a meeting in Dubai on Tuesday.

Hair had been banned since November 2006 because of his conduct during a test between Pakistan and England that led to the first forfeit in test cricket's 129-year history.

"(The ICC) believes Darrell Hair is a very good and competent umpire," ICC president-elect David Morgan said of the unanimous decision.

"He will be allocated test matches and one day internationals by the new system with immediate effect."

Morgan declined to say if the 55-year-old Australian could umpire any match involving Pakistan. Hair's position will be reviewed at the end of March 2009, the ICC said.

Hair's return comes after he completed a so-called "rehabilitation program" handed him in September when he agreed to drop a claim of racial discrimination by the ICC.

Hair was angered by the fact that he was banned while fellow umpire, West Indian Billy Doctrove, largely escaped censure.

The umpires had 'fined' Pakistan five runs for alleged ball-tampering during the fourth and final Test at The Oval in August 2006.

The decision infuriated the Pakistanis -- and their captain Inzamam-ul-Haq refused to play on, resulting in the match being abandoned after tea on the fourth day with England awarded victory.

Although Hair was never removed from the ICC's elite panel, which provides the umpires for test matches, he was told he would not be appointed to top level games.

Hair has since officiated in one-day internationals involving non test-playing countries, most recently Ireland against Scotland last July, and is contracted to the ICC until March 2009.

The ICC executive board also decided to reduce the number of teams at the next Cricket World Cup in 2011 -- from 16 to 14 -- after widespread criticism of the 2007 tournament, which lasted more than six weeks.

Morgan said the showpiece event will be "significantly shortened."

Also at the two-day meeting the ICC discussed allowing the increased use of technology in referrals of disputed decisions to the TV umpire.

Morgan said this would be tested at test matches between England and South Africa later this year if both countries agreed.

The ICC said it will conduct an independent security review of the political situation in Pakistan ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in September.

Meanwhile, officials expressed support for the new Indian Premier League while adding that "nation-versus-nation cricket" should always get priority. E-mail to a friend

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