NOT GUILTY BUT... Inzamam-ul-Haq leaves the Oval on Thursday after being cleared of ball tampering charges. He, however, received a four-match One Day International ban for leading a protest against the umpires by failing to come on to the field on the fourth day of the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at the Oval on August 20. Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has called for action to be taken against umpire Darrell Hair who, along with Billy Doctrove, penalised Pakistan for ``tamperi ng'' with the ball. — Photo: AP

LONDON: Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was cleared of ball tampering by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday, but banned for four one-day matches for bringing the game into disrepute.

The ban follows Pakistan's refusal to take the field after tea on the fourth day of the fourth Test against England at The Oval last month after it had been penalised five runs for alleged ball tampering.

England was awarded the match on a forfeit for the first time in the history of Test cricket.

In a statement at the conclusion of a two-day ICC Code of Conduct hearing on Thursday, match referee Ranjan Madugalle said Inzamam had been found not guilty of ball tampering.

Ban

But he said the Pakistan skipper had been found guilty of a level three ICC rule and would be banned for four one-day internationals.

"Mr. Ul-Haq has been found guilty of deliberately refusing to come on to the field on two occasions as a protest against the umpires, so interrupting play," the statement said.

"I decide Mr. Ul-Haq should be banned for four one-day international matches."

Pakistan's protest followed a decision by umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove to change the ball and penalise Pakistan five runs for alleged ball tampering.

Pakistan was particularly incensed at Hair's role at The Oval and its cricket board has asked the ICC to ensure that Hair does not officiate at any more of its matches.

This week the Indian cricket board had asked the ICC to omit Hair from the panel for next month's Champions Trophy in India.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said last month the team had lost confidence in Hair after a long history of acrimony between the Australian and Asian teams.

Days after the match was called off, Hair was involved in further controversy when the ICC revealed that he had asked them for $500,000 in return for retiring from the elite umpires' panel.

Hair and Doctrove were two of the 11 witnesses called to attend the ICC hearing.

Sources said Hair left the venue immediately in a huff after he learnt that Inzamam was cleared of ball-tampering charge and had been banned for just four games.

Hair pulls out

Meanwhile, the ICC has said that the Australian umpire will not officiate in next month's Champions Trophy in India because of security concerns.

"I wish to keep on being an umpire," Hair said. "My umpiring performance or career is on public record and if other people consider I am still good enough to umpire, I will continue."

Hair denied that he felt he had been made a scapegoat over the issue by the ICC.

Inzamam, however, will not appeal against the four-match ban slapped on him, as he believed the verdict was fair and the punishment lenient.

He said he was happy that the team had been cleared of the more serious charge of ball tampering which amounted to cheating and that he had no regrets about missing next month's Champions Trophy in India.

"I am happy we have been cleared of a charge that was the basis of what happened in The Oval Test. We are sorry that we could not finish the Test against England but the main cause of our protest is now behind us," he told PTI.

Inzamam said he was prepared to face some kind of punishment and hailed the verdict as a victory for the entire country.

MORAL VICTORY: For Inzamam-ul-Haq and PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, the ICC verdict will be a morale booster ahead of the Champions Trophy, even though the former will miss it due to the four-match ban. — Photo: AFP

"The entire team backed me and took such a strong stand because it was very upset and angry at being accused of such a serious charge.

"So this is a big moral victory for us and I am sure it will help the team do very well in the Champions Trophy," he added.

Inzamam also said Younis Khan would now lead the team in the Champions Trophy and his replacement will be decided soon.

Young batsman Faisal Iqbal is being tipped to replace Inzamam.

Akram delighted

Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram said he was delighted with the outcome of the hearing.

"I was sure the ball-tampering charges would not hold because there was no evidence to back up the umpires' claim. But certainly it was obvious that the ICC would have to take some action on the charges of bringing the game into disrepute because under no circumstances could the Pakistan team's decision to not play be justified," Akram said.

Imran's comment

Pakistan legend Imran Khan called for action against Hair. Khan welcomed Inzamam's acquittal.

"I welcome the acquittal of Inzamam and the team of ball tampering charges. Pakistan have been cleared of very serious allegations of cheating," Khan told AFP.

"The other offence is quite minor and I think the punishment is also minor."

Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja too agreed that the ICC needed to take action against the umpire.

"The ICC need to pull up their socks and take a firm decision now on Darrell Hair," he said, adding that he thought Pakistan should appeal against the verdict. — Agencies

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