Hair to umpire in World Cricket League

Further to the announcement earlier today that Darrell Hair has been appointed by the ICC as an umpire for the tri-series in Kenya starting on Wednesday, it has emerged that he will also stand in the forthcoming World Cricket League Division One competition in Nairobi.

Hair was barred by the ICC from officiating in any matches involving Full Member countries last November, and the news that he would be umpiring in Mombasa caught many by surprise. It now seems that he will travel from Mombasa, where the tri-series ends on January 24, to Nairobi for the start of the WCL on January 30.

Hair remains on the ICC payroll until March 2008, and one of the roles identified for him is thought to be as an overseer of up-and-coming officials. It is not surprising that he has been appointed to stand in the WCL given the tournament's importance among the Associate countries.