> Pakistan files written complaint against Hair

Pakistan has lodged a formal written complaint against Australian umpire Darrell Hair, asking the International Cricket Council (ICC) to hold an inquiry into his conduct during the controversial Oval Test in August.

"The letter is basically a charge sheet against Hair outlining instances where we feel he violated the umpires Code of Conduct during the Oval incident," Saleem Altaf, director cricket operations, told Reuters via telephone from India on Tuesday.

The ICC have included the issue on the agenda of its executive board meeting in Mumbai on November 3.

Pakistan has refused to play further matches under the supervision of Hair after the fourth Test against England at the Oval ended in Test cricket's first forfeited match.

Pakistan refused to resume play at the Oval in protest against the decision of Hair and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove to change the ball and penalise them five runs for ball tampering.

ICC adjudicator Ranjan Madugalle in a hearing in late September in London cleared Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq of ball-tampering charges but banned him for four matches for bringing the game into disrepute.

COMPENSATION CLAIM

Pakistan claims that after the umpires had awarded the game to England, Hair refused to resume the match despite requests from the ICC chief executive, the two boards and match referee Mike Procter.

The ICC had told Pakistan it would not entertain demands for an inquiry into Hair's conduct unless a formal complaint was filed outlining instances where the umpire might have acted beyond his powers.

"We believe that an inquiry into Hair's conduct is necessary as it will have a bearing on the compensation claim filed by England against us for loss of revenues in the Test," Altaf said.

The England and Wales cricket board want Pakistan to pay over 800,000 pounds in compensation.

"We also believe the forfeiture is a result and the match was completed," Altaf added.

Hair has maintained he acted according to the rules of the game and is not biased against Asian teams. The ICC did not include Hair and Doctrove on the umpires panel for the Champions Trophy in India.

Hair has maintained he acted according to the rules of the game and is not biased against Asian teams. The ICC did not include Hair and Doctrove on the umpires panel for the Champions Trophy in India.