I'm not biased against Asian teams: Hair

Controversial Oz umpire says there is no problem between him and Indian sub-continent.

Controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair has insisted that he was correct to penalise Pakistan and award the recent Test match to England, but maintained that he did not have a bias against teams in the Indian sub-continent.

HT Image

Dismissing criticism of his past performance, he said: "People who know me know I would not take action unless I really thought it was necessary. I have umpired quite a lot in the sub-continent and when the ICC have asked me to do a job I try and do it to the best of my ability."

Hair told Brisbane's Courier-Mail: "I stand by what I have done, but if anything comes out at the inquiry that proves me incorrect I would accept that too."

He added: "The hard knocks along the way sort out the tough from the weak. At this stage everything is still fine. I have always taken a lot of pride in my performance and while I am doing the best job I possibly can I am going to continue.

"If other people have issues they want to use to force me out it will be an interesting battle. The media criticism has been hot over here [in England] ... that surprises me. But life goes on; nobody died. It is not one of those issues that requires mourning. I have been absolutely stunned by the support I have had."

Hair also rejected the idea that he has a specific problem when it comes to umpiring teams from the sub-continent. "That is not something that is an issue for me - is no problem with me and the sub-continenthe said.

"I have umpired quite a lot in the sub-continent over the last couple of years and when the ICC have asked me to do a job I try and do it to the best of my ability. I have always taken a lot of pride in my performance and while I am doing the best job I possibly can I am going to continue."