The International Cricket Council on Sunday did a volte-face and re-awarded the infamous 2006 Oval Test to England, a match that was originally deemed forfeited by Pakistan but declared a draw by the ICC last year.
"After reconsideration of the matter, which included consideration of legal advice and input from the MCC, the custodians of the Laws of Cricket, the Board decided that the original umpires' decision to award the match to England, should apply," the ICC said in a statement after a two-day Executive Board meeting that ended here today.
Interestingly, the ICC Board had earlier changed the result to "match abandoned as a draw" in July last year.
The Oval Test became the first forfeiture in the history of Test cricket after controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair and his West Indian colleague Billy Doctrove awarded it to England on the fourth day.
The umpires' move was prompted by Pakistan's refusal to take the field after Hair had accused them of ball tampering and penalised them of five runs, a decision that infuriated the then Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said re-awarding the match to England will "uphold the laws of cricket" and thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board for accepting the decision.
{{/usCountry}}ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said re-awarding the match to England will "uphold the laws of cricket" and thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board for accepting the decision.
{{/usCountry}}"I'm gratified the Board reached the conclusion it did as this ensures the integrity of the game and the Laws of Cricket have been upheld. I am especially grateful to the PCB for its understanding in this matter," he said.
The decision left Hair, who was sacked from the elite panel, vindicated. The Australian won a legal battle against the ICC to get himself reinstated last March before quitting the panel.