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Controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair is all set to allege racial discrimination against International Cricket Council (ICC) for sacking him from its Elite Panel in next month’s tribunal hearing in London.

The hearing in Hair’s case will be held in London Central Employment Tribunal from October 1 which may run up to 10 days, with ICC indicating it could call up to 20 witnesses, The Australian reported.

This was confirmed after talks between Hair and ICC broke down completely.In a staggering decision, ICC’s executive board, comprising ten Test-playing nations, voted him out of international panel after famous ‘Oval fiasco’ in August last year citing reason that they had lost confidence in him, in spite of the fact that ICC’s umpiring department has rated him as one of the best in the world.

Aussie umpire and his fellow colleague Billy Doctrove forfeited Oval Test and awarded to England after Pakistan refused to play on in protest at being charged with ball tampering. Hair’s non-popularity with the sub-continental countries was also fired up after he no-balled spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan seven times for throwing during Boxing Day Test in Melbourne in 1995.

The newspaper, however, reported that in next month’s hearing, Hair would allege racial discrimination on the basis that while his international umpiring career was ruined by decision, costing him about $120,000 a year in match fees, his partner-in-crime Doctrove has got let off from ICC as he still continues to umpire international matches.

When told about hearing, Hair seemed guarded, saying, “I can confirm the case has been set down for October 1 and I have arranged my travel to be there. I look forward to this matter being over and done with, so my wife and I can get on with our lives.” He seemed non-committal about his future plans after he preferred to remain silent on whether he would continue umpiring in Australia’s state cricket this season.

Source:Cricket News