Demonstrations in Pak against umpire Hair

The protesters chanted slogans against the Australian umpire and expressed their support for the Pakistani team and Inzamam.

Organisers and officials of Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) staged a demonstration against Australian umpire Darrell Hair for his controversial decision to award penalty runs to England after charging Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq of ball tampering.

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Tuesday's rally started from Asghar Ali Shah Stadium and terminated at the Karachi Press Club.

The protesters chanted slogans against Hair and expressed their support and solidarity with Pakistani team and Inzamam, Pakistan's official news agency APP reported Wednesday.

"We will stage another rally if any action was taken against Inzamam after the hearing," they said.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) declared the match in favour of England after the Pakistani team staged a protest against Hair and did not take the field after tea break on the fourth day of the final Test at the Oval.

Hair and West Indian umpire Billy Doctrov removed the bails with England batsmen Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell at the crease.

Pakistan's team later came on the field but umpires refused to supervise.

The demonstrators demanded the ICC to impose a 10-year ban on Hair and conduct an independent inquiry for his allegation of ball tampering against the Pakistani team.

KCCA secretary Sirajul Islam speaking said the whole nation was behind Inzamam and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan.

They condemned the discriminatory attitude of Hair towards Pakistan and other Asian teams and demanded the ICC to declared the match as draw.

Another organiser Siraj Bukhari asked how a bowler could indulge in such a foolish act with 20 cameras in operation during the Test match.

"Hair took an unilateral decision for personal vendetta," he pointed out.

He said the umpire's allegations were without any solid evidence and all the top England players were also stunned by Hair's decision.