ICC confirms Pakistan request for Hair investigation

The ICC has confirmed that they received a request from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to hold an inquiry into the conduct of umpire Darrell Hair, the umpire at the centre of the ball-tampering row at The Oval.

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, was charged with ball-tampering and bringing the game into disrepute, and his disciplinary hearing has been delayed till the end of September. However, Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, had requested the ICC to throughly investigate Hair first before any charges against Inzamam are imposed.

"We are not pressing any charges", Shaharyar told AFP. "We are simply requesting that Mr Hair should be investigated."

Shaharyar was hopeful that Inzamam will be cleared before Pakistan select their squad for the Champions Trophy in India in October. If found guilty of both charges, Inzamam could be banned for upto eight one-day internationals or four Tests.

"We are very hopeful that the charges against Inzamam would be dropped so to say that we are thinking about whether to select him for the Champions Trophy is not current", Shaharyar told The News, a Pakistan-based daily. "It is too early for that. Inzamam has a strong case and he remains our captain for the Champions Trophy."

"This is a very pertinent issue for us," Saleem Altaf, director of cricket operations, added. "Our selectors want to know if they are allowed to replace him if he is banned after being named in the squad. Don't forget besides being captain he also a key player for us. He rates high in the planning for the tournament."

The ICC's deadline for all participating teams to confirm their squads for the tournament is September 7.