Inzamam summoned as witness in Hair's Oval law suit

Had Inzamam-ul-Haq remained in Pakistan rather than play county cricket, the tribunal would not have had the power to call him © Getty Images Enlarge

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain, has been summoned as a witness by a London tribunal that will hear umpire Darrell Hair's suit against the ICC. Hair is suing for alleged racial discrimination in the aftermath of the Oval controversy.

Inzamam was the Pakistan captain in that Test, which saw his side charged with ball-tampering. The team refused to take the field in protest against that decision, following which the match was awarded to England.

Hearing of the case begins on October 1 at the Central Office of London Tribunals and is expected to last two weeks.

A report in the Times said the summons would compel Inzamam's attendance for cross-examination. Had Inzamam been in Pakistan rather than in England - playing county cricket for Yorkshire - the tribunal would not have had the power to call him, the report said.

Hair's lawyers, Finers Stephens Innocent, wrote to Inzamam requesting his attendance, but did not receive a reply. The summons, the Times said, was served in the presence of Stewart Regan, the chief executive of Yorkshire CCC.

Inzamam now has to decide whether to fly back to Pakistan and return to England before the hearing commences or stay in London.

Hair is to be represented by Robert Griffiths QC, an MCC cricket and general committee member, and will be opposed by Michael Beloff QC.

He is likely to call on fellow umpire Billy Doctrove, with whom he stood at The Oval. Also expected to appear on Hair's behalf are John Jameson, a former assistant secretary of the MCC, and Jimmy Adams, the former West Indies captain.

Hair, who remains on the ICC's Elite panel, was restricted to officiating Associate matches in the aftermath of the Oval saga.