Controversial former umpire Darrell Hair wants ICC officials to quit after 2006 Oval Test decision

Former International Cricket Council umpire Darrell Hair had preferred to keep mum over ICC's earlier decision to overturn the result of the 2006 England versus Pakistan Oval Test from forfeiture to draw.

Now, after the game's rulers decided to award the Test to England, the 55-year-old Hair has decided to lash out at the ICC officials.

"All the Board members who were involved in the earlier decision should resign now. And this should also include the present ICC president David Morgan," Hair said from Sydney.

"The first to go should be David Richardson (General Manager-Cricket) and Doug Cowie, the ICC's manager for umpires. They spoiled my life," he added.

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"I was right in my decision and was on the top of the world, but the ICC destroyed my career," he remarked.
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Hair's offer for compensation and resignation letter was leaked. This still haunts the former umpire.

Interestingly, Richardson now also sits on MCC's world cricket committee that has players and umpires as members from several Test playing nations.

In fact, the decision to overturn the result at first instance (forfeiture to draw) was not given sanction by the ICC cricket committee then headed by Sunil Gavaskar. West Indian pace bowling great Michael Holding resigned from the committee in protest.
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Hair's umpiring career was a controversial one. The majority of incidents involved Asian nations and his critics were only to glad to call him biased.

"I want to forget the past now. I am happily living in Sydney now," he said.

Hair has now been officiating as a CEO for New South Wales Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (NSWCU&SA).

The writer is a freelancer