Test forfeited: England win

The fourth Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval has been forfeited as an England win, after a joint statement between the ICC, ECB and PCB.

"After lengthy negotiations which resulted in agreement between the teams, the ICC match referee and both ECB and PCB to seek to resume the fourth npower Test match on Monday, it was concluded with regret that there will be no play on the fifth day. The fourth npower Test match between England and Pakistan has therefore been forfeited with the match being awarded to England.

In accordance with the laws of cricket it was noted that the umpires had correctly deemed that Pakistan had forfeited the match and awarded the Test to England.

At a meeting between the captains, ECB, PCB and match referee, the players, ICC match referee and boards indicated that they would offer to resume play if at all possible on day five.

The umpires having awarded the match to England and having consulted with the Pakistan captain reconfirmed their decision to award the match to England.

The Pakistan team was aggrieved by the award of five penalty runs to England. The award of those penalty runs for alleged interference with the ball is under review by the ICC match referee Mike Procter, whose report will be considered in due course.

ICC will be issuing a separate report concerning action which may be taken in relation to the forfeiture of the match by Pakistan.

ECB Chief Executive David Collier said: "The ECB expresses great regret that the actions taken resulted in spectators, television viewers and radio listeners being deprived of play."

In light of the reduction of play on day four ECB has determined that all spectators who purchased tickets should be eligible to a 40 percent refund on their fourth day ticket and a full refund will be paid to all spectators who purchased tickets for day five."

Surrey issued this statement: "Customers are advised that tickets (for Monday) do not need to be returned. For further information customers should call 08712 461 100 (calls charged at 10p per minute) or visit www.surreycricket.com

Surrey Chief Executive, Paul Sheldon, stated, "as the venue responsible for hosting this event, Surrey County Cricket Club and the Brit Oval deeply regret the inconvenience caused to members and spectators as a result of this decision. This was beyond our control."

11.15pm An ICC statement adds: "ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed also spoke to umpire Darrell Hair by phone from Dubai.

"Following these meetings the umpires decided that, having made the decision to award the match to England, to change that decision would not be in keeping with the Laws of Cricket. The ICC backs the decision of the umpires.

"The issue of a charge or charges to be laid against Pakistan under the ICC's code of conduct will now be dealt with at the earliest possible opportunity. Pakistan has been charged under level two of the code of conduct, 2.10, which relates to changing the condition of the match ball."