Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 831 Wed. September 27, 2006  
   
Sports


Inzy returns to The Oval


Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq will face ball-tampering and disrepute charges at The Oval, the ground where the controversy first arose, today.

The International Cricket Council's (ICC) chief referee, Ranjan Madugalle, will preside over a two-day hearing.

But the Sri Lankan is not expected to reveal his findings until Friday.

The ICC has confirmed that all four umpires on duty for the game between England and Pakistan will attend the hearing.

Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove were the officials out in the middle, with Peter Hartley and Trevor Jesty providing off the field back-up.

The fourth Test in August ended in an unprecedented forfeiture by the tourists following Hair and Doctrove's decision to penalise them for ball-tampering.

Madugalle will consider testimony and written statements from witnesses, many directly involved with events which culminated in the abandonment of the Test after Pakistan were deemed to have refused to play on after tea on the fourth day.

If Inzamam is found guilty of the ball-tampering he faces a fine of between 50 and 100 per cent of his match fee. He could also be banned for one Test or two one-day internationals.

On the second charge, deemed more serious by the ICC, a ban of between two and four Tests or four to eight ODIs is a possibility.

Also present at the hearing will be Oval match referee Mike Procter and ICC umpires and referees manager Doug Cowie, who was at the match on the day in question.

Cowie was also the recipient of a subsequent e-mail from Hair, in which he offered to resign in exchange for 500,000 dollars.

Pakistan's representatives are expected to include coach Bob Woolmer and board chairman Shaharyar Khan as well as Inzamam. London-based Mark Gay will head their legal team.

Picture
Protesters carry portraits of Pakistani cricket team skipper Inzamamul Haq and an effigy of Australian cricket umpire Darrell Hair during a protest in Lahore recently. PHOTO: AFP