Date:03/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/03/stories/2008070351642000.htm

Sport - Cricket

Moral victory for Pakistan

Karachi: In a moral victory for Pakistan cricket, the ICC has agreed in principle to convert the result of the 2006’s controversial Oval Test between England and Pakistan into a draw from a forfeited win for Michael Vaughan’s men.

“The decision was taken at the board meeting on Wednesday with Pakistan pressing for the authorities to convert the result of the Oval Test result,” sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.

The Test was awarded to England by umpire Darrell Hair after Pakistan did not come out to field, following accusations of ball-tampering, in the post tea session on the fourth day, making it the first forfeiture in the history of Test cricket.

“Members of other Boards supported us in our stand that the result should be officially changed to a draw as an ICC adjudicator later found Hair guilty of transgressing his authority and not behaving properly during the entire episode,” they said.

“The Board agreed the result should be a draw not a forfeited win for England,” the sources added. — PTI