Judgment day for Hair (9 January 1999)

9 January 1999

Judgment day for Hair

by Geoff Longley

Outspoken Australian umpire cricket Darrell Hair could face judgment day at the International Cricket Council executive committee meeting in Christchurch this weekend because of his criticism of Sri Lankan bowlers

The ICC is expected to rule at its two-day meeting tomorrow and Monday on a punishment for Hair if found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute for his comments about the controversial bowling action of Muttiah Muralitharan.

ICC chief executive David Richards said the body faces the unprecedented situation of an umpire being charged with violating the code of conduct, which primarily covers player indiscretions, while still actively involved in umpiring.

Hair no-balled the Sri Lankan off-spinner seven times at a Boxing Day test in Melbourne in 1995.

"I could have called him 27 times or more, but I did not want the matter to become a complete farce," Hair wrote.

Muralitharan was later found not to have violated the "throwing" laws, and an outraged Sri Lanka wants punitive action taken.

"They view it being detrimental to the game and we will have to work through the process for it hasn't happened with a current umpire before," Richards said.

Hair has stood down from Sri Lanka's match in the tri-series one-day tournament starting in Australia this weekend.

Richards said when players were found guilty of breaches, punishments of up to three tests or six one-day match suspensions could be imposed. He was unsure what penalty would be most appropriate regarding an umpire.

Another item on the agenda which will take considerable time is the vexed one of players involvement in match-fixing and bribery allegations.

Richards said the matter will come down to whether the ICC executive is empowered by the member delegates to run an independent commission of inquiry or countries wish to retain their autonomy in dealing with the issue.

"The allegations and innuendos are a cancer within the game and it needs to be brought to a conclusion."

"It's a world-wide issue but the image of the game is a precious commodity which is a key reason why action ought to be supported."

Richards believe the increased unity within the ICC, brought about in part by legislation changes, led him to feel there was a collective will to solve the problem.

Richards said only once before, when the code of conduct was established, had member countries ceded power to the ICC to act through the match referee system. He said he expected extensive and considered debate on the subject.

Richards said there would be no comment on the present Pakistan inquiry.

Reports from each of the three ICC committees cricket, administration and development will be received as a raft of other matters are considered.

ICC is hoping to stage the next World Cup knockout event at Disneyworld in Orlando and is negotiating with the Disney organisation for the event to be staged there in October 2000. The first successful one was staged in Bangladesh in October.

Cricket's participation in the next Commonwealth Games will be discussed so will the options for the proposed world championship of test cricket. Richards said it was hoped that the matter would be resolved at the ICC's next annual meeting in June.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)