HAIR CUT - Black & White vote

The International Cricket Council has confirmed Darrell Hair will not umpire in any further international matches. Hair's position had been the subject of debate since he called Pakistan for ball-tampering in the controversial Oval Test against England in August.

The Australian's contract as an elite umpire runs until March 2008, but he will not be offered a new one. And between now and then, the ICC will not ask him to officiate in any matches between Test-playing nations.

"I am afraid we have lost confidence in Hair," ICC president Percy Sonn told reporters.

"He will not be appointed to officiate in any further international games."

On 20 August, Pakistan were in the field against England on the fourth day of the final Test of the series.

Hair, who was already regarded as a controversial figure - particularly in the subcontinent - awarded England a five-run penalty because he believed the ball had been interfered with.

The Pakistan team refused to resume play after the tea interval in protest against the decision leading to the first forfeiture in 129 years of Test cricket.

ICC adjudicator Ranjan Madugalle later cleared Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq of ball-tampering charges.

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said: "I had hoped we could find a way for Darrell to continue umpiring at the top level."

"I spoke to Darrell on Friday after the decision was made, and he was very disappointed. "We will speak to him in the next few days when he has decided what this means for him."

He said the four South Asian Test-playing nations tabled the motion to sack the controversial Australian three months after he was at the centre of a ball-tampering row with Pakistan.

India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, together with South Africa, Zimbabwe and the West Indies, voted for Hair's dismissal, he said.

England, Australia and New Zealand wanted him to remain.

“The motion was put to vote and was passed by a 7-3 majority.

“The four Asian nations plus South Africa, Zimbabwe and the West Indies voted against Hair. England, Australia and New Zealand wanted him to continue.”The decision was taken on the opening day of the two-day executive board meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) here and was to be formally announced later.

It comes after Pakistan lodged a complaint against Hair for his role in the forfeited Oval Test against England in August and demanded an inquiry into his conduct. - AFP/ BBC