Zaheer claims 'huge victory' after Hair money shock by AFP

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Event:

Pakistan in British Isles 2006

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DateLine: 26th August 2006

 

Pakistan tour manager Zaheer Abbas insisted his side had won a huge victory after the dramatic revelations here Friday that umpire Darrell Hair had offered to resign in exchange for 500,000 dollars.

 

Hair, together with West Indian colleague Billy Doctrove, penalised Pakistan for ball-tampering during the fourth Test against England at The Oval on Sunday, a move that ultimately led the tourists to forfeit the match following their refusal to take the field after tea.

 

Following the first forfeit in the 129-year-history of Test cricket, Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was charged with ball-tampering and bringing the game into disrepute.

 

Although Inzamam's case is not now due to be heard until the middle of next month, and despite the fact that Hair's offer was made after the alleged on-field offences took place, Zaheer said the resignation revelations had "vindicated" the Pakistan team.

 

"This is a huge victory, and it makes a strong case for us to be cleared on ball-tampering," Zaheer told the BBC Asian Network's Gagan Grewal Show.

 

"We were very confident that we hadn't tampered with the ball - we didn't like the way the whole thing was projected to the world. It has also vindicated our case."

 

Even though Hair later rescinded his offer, Pakistan batting great Zaheer said it helped prove Pakistan's protest at The Oval was "legitimate".

 

"This also proves our protest on the fourth day of the final Test was legitimate," Zaheer added.

 

"This is a moral victory for us, and it's good that now this issue can reach its conclusion."

 

And Zaheer said the result of the match, an England win which gave the hosts the series 3-0, could be revised as well.

 

"As for whether we need to revisit the result of the last Test match - which was forfeited to England - we'll have to discuss it with the parties concerned."

 

Earlier this week Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan called on the ICC to ban Hair from standing in any future Pakistan matches.

 

"We will take this issue further. I'm going to have further discussion with the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and we'll decide our future course of action."

 

Meanwhile Zaheer said Pakistan's players were pleased the one-day series - scheduled to start with a Twenty20 match in Bristol on Monday - was going ahead.

 

"The boys are jubilant on this news. All along we maintained that we were innocent, and it's now been proven right," he said.

 

"I've always stated that we're a cricket-loving country and I'm glad the one-day series will go on."

 

Far more cautious was the statement issued by Mark Gay of London-based lawyers DLA Piper, who've been engaged by Pakistan to help them put forward Inzamam's case.

 

Gay said of the publication of Hair's e-mail correspondence with the ICC, which included the resignation offer: "We met with the ICC and we agreed that it should be disclosed.

 

"Other than that it is a matter for ICC. We do not want to prejudice the preparation of our case."

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)