Darrell Hair, the controversial Australian umpire, after a brief interregnum, returns back to the international umpiring.
Darrell Hair’s controversial test umpiring during the famous Oval cricket test that took place between England and Pakistan, in the year 2006, led to the first ever ‘win by default’ by the England team. It was Darrell Hair who charged Pakistan team of ball tampering that led to an enquiry by the ICC and finally Pakistan was proved not guilty of any ball tampering. Hence, Darrell Hair, who ignited the controversy, was removed from the ICC elite panel of umpires. Darrell Hair was known for his partisan attitude especially against the Asian players. The Sri Lankan bowler Muthaiah Muralidharan was another victim of Darrell Hair, who blamed him for his suspect bowling action. However, ICC cleared him.
Even after his removal from the ICC elite panel, he sued the ICC saying he was the victim of racial discrimination, arguing that his fellow umpire, Billy Doctrove, a West Indian, had been treated differently. Hair dropped the case several days into the hearing.
A few months ago, Darrell Hair was reinstated into the ICC panel of umpires amidst protests from Pakistan Cricket Board and in particular from the former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-Ul-Haq.
Now Darrell Hair returns to the highest level of the game on Friday, when he umpires the second test between England and New Zealand, at Old Trafford, Manchestor.It will be the Australian’s 77 th test. The 76 th was the controversial Oval test that took place between England and Pakistan.
It seems that still Darrell Hair has a lot of ammunition of controversy in his arsenal.Let us hope that he may not use it against the hapless Asian Cricketers, hailing from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. But Pakistan Cricket board has already informed ICC that they will not play any cricket test, in which Darrell Hair is officiating as an umpire.
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