Inzi cleared of cheating

Sultan

Gentleness adorns everything
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Disrepute ban for skipper Inzamam

Inzamam's four-match ban is the least he could have been given
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has been cleared of ball-tampering, but banned for four one-day internationals for bringing the game into disrepute.
He was found not guilty of cheating, but has been punished for his team's refusal to resume play in the fourth Test against England at The Oval.

The four-game ban was the minimum possible for the offence in question.

The charges followed the furore on 20 August which led to a Test being forfeited for the first time ever.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said afterwards: "We're very satisfied. We feel the whole process was very fair."

The row had begun after umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove penalised Pakistan five runs for tampering with the ball in the 56th over of the fourth day's play.

Pakistan were incensed at the decision and after tea the team stayed in the dressing room in protest.

The umpires then removed the bails and despite calls to resume the Test it was forfeited - becoming the first match in the history of cricket to be so.

As captain of his team, Inzamam was charged by the International Cricket Council and appeared at a two-day code of conduct hearing chaired by senior match referee Ranjan Madugalle.

Madugalle said in a statement: "Having regard to the seriousness of the allegation of ball-tampering - it is an allegation of cheating - I am not satisfied on the balance of probabilities there is sufficiently cogent evidence the fielding team had changed the condition of the ball.

"In my judgement the marks are as consistent with normal wear and tear of a match ball after 56 overs as they are with deliberate human intervention."

Explaining how he arrived at the four-match ban for disrepute, he went on: "On two occasions [Inzamam] led a protest against the umpires by failing to come on to the field of play at the relevant time.

"I have taken into account Mr Ul-Haq's expression of regret and an apology and I take into account all the surrounding and mitigating circumstances."

Inzamam and the umpires were among 11 witnesses who gave evidence in the closed hearing.

The others were fourth umpire Trevor Jesty, match referee Mike Procter, ICC referees and umpires' manager Doug Cowie.

And for the defence Khan, Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer as well as three expert witnesses - Geoffrey Boycott, Simon Hughes and John Hampshire - gave evidence.

Inzamam has the right to appeal within 24 hours but has already said he is unlikey to do so.

He told GEO television: "Since this is the minimum possible suspension I don't think we will appeal."

This means he will be ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy, which will be held in India next month, unless Pakistan make the final - in which case he could appear in that.
 
Its cool that inzi got of lightly, a fair result imo....but Hair, what a dicklhead, he is the reason the pakistanis got done for, and he ACCUSED them of cheating, which theyve been found innocent of, he should not be an umpire anymore, sack the bastard
 
Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott launched a withering attack on Hair's part in the controversy.

"Hair is the first man to apply the five-run penalty for ball-tampering and he got it wrong," said Boycott, a key witness in the disciplinary hearing.

"He is also the first man to call a Test match forfeited, and I believe he got that wrong too."

"If he is going to make a decision which affects the whole fabric of the game he had better have some evidence."

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Boycott accused Hair of taking advantage of his position of authority.

"All Hair had to do was go up to Inzamam and say: 'We're not too sure whether the ball has been tampered with, but if anybody is messing around, they had better cut it out.'

"That is what most former players would have done in Hair's position.

"One knock-on effect is likely to be a change in the laws. We don't want umpires to be allowed to play God like this ever again."