credit: www.bbc.co.uk



The International Cricket Council has refused to comment on reports that Australian Darrell Hair has been removed from its elite umpires panel.
News agencies quoted an unnamed ICC official saying Hair would no longer officiate in international matches.

It was a claim also made by Indian TV but an ICC spokesman said no decision would be announced until Saturday.

Hair's future has been unclear since the ball-tampering row in the fourth Test at The Oval in August.

He and fellow official Billy Doctrove imposed a five-run penalty against Pakistan on the fourth afternoon against England.

When Pakistan initially refused to take to the field in protest after tea, the umpires awarded the game to England by forfeit.

Touring captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was charged with ball-tampering and bringing the game into disrepute, but was cleared of the first charge at a subsequent hearing.

Hair offered to quit as a top-level umpire in the aftermath of the fiasco at The Oval in exchange for $500,000, but later retracted the offer.

Pakistan then lodged a formal written complaint against him, asking for an inquiry into his conduct.