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Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said on Saturday he would not seek legal action against Australian umpire Darrell Hair after being cleared of ball-tampering charges by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“Our religion Islam teaches us to forgive and forget, so I forgive Hair and will not take any action against him,” Inzamam said on return from London, where a two-day ICC hearing cleared him of ball tampering.

The 36-year-old captain was however handed a four-match ODI ban for bringing the game into disrepute over his team’s refusal to take the field in the fourth and final Test against England at The Oval in August. The protest came after Hair and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove of the West Indies penalised Pakistan five runs on suspicion of ball tampering.

The ban will keep Inzamam out of the biennial ICC Champions Trophy competition which begins in India on October 7. The batsman said the support from the Pakistani people was overwhelming. “It was a tough period for not only me but for our cricket — and I am thankful to all the people who supported me and our cause of getting our name cleared of tampering.

“A four-match ban is nothing compared to the stigma of cheating, which could have destroyed our cricket. Had I not protested we would have to live with the stigma. I am happy that we are cleared,” said Inzamam.

He said he would also sorely miss the Champions Trophy competition. “It’s the second-best event after the World Cup and I will miss it. But I am convinced that the team can deliver its best. We have a very good chance of winning the Trophy,” said Inzamam, who vowed to return with a bang.

“We have a home series against the West Indies, then a tour of South Africa and finally the World Cup, so I will conserve my energies for these future assignments — especially the World Cup, which we dearly want to win,” the majestic batsman added.

Source:The News