India demands Hair-less ICC Trophy

BCCI fears that the umpire's presence 'might provoke spectators' in matches, reports G Krishnan. Is this justified?

A day before world cricket’s governing body begins a disciplinary hearing to decide if Pakistan were right to stay away from the field after being accused of ball tampering by Darrell Hair in England last August, the Indian cricket board has announced it wants the umpire to be kept out of the Champions Trophy starting in India next month.

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The ICC, however, has said choosing the panel of umpires is its prerogative.

"We have nothing against Hair officiating in India or in Champions Trophy. But with the controversy surrounding him, we do not want any crowd trouble during the Champions Trophy," BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said on Tuesday.

"The BCCI president Sharad Pawar wrote a letter to the ICC president Percy Sonn on Monday to this effect. The BCCI is showing its concern towards the appointment of Hair for the Champions Trophy. It is better to... guard against unnecessary incidents that could happen when he is officiating," Shah said.

The ICC's Manager (Media and Communications) Brian Murgatroyd said the ICC had received the letter. "We welcome any feedback from our members...," he said. "(But) Our members have invested the ICC with the responsibility of making these decisions, like the appointment of umpires and match referees."

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq refused to lead his team back on to the field on the fourth afternoon of the Oval Test on August 20, after Hair and Billy Doctrove charged them with cheating.

The decision of the disciplinary panel, headed by chief referee Ranjan Madugalle, will determine if Inzy will lead Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.