Hair to sue ICC, PCB of 'racial discrimination'

London, Feb 7 (UNI) Alleging that he was being singled out for a rough treatment, beleagured Australian umpire Darrell Hair has decided to sue the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the PCB for ''racial discrimination'' for barring him from officiating at the highest level.

Hair was in the eye of storm during the England-Pakistan Oval Test last year after the umpire penalised the tourists for ball tampering. Pakistan players refused to take to the field in protest after which Hair and the other umpire Billi Doctrove deemed the Test forfeited.

According to a report on BBC Sport, the Aussie felt he was made a scapegoat after ICC decided to bar him from officiating in international matches.

Hair pointed out that while the ICC was harsh on him, West Indian Doctrove was let off the hook.

He charged that the PCB had influenced the ICC in getting him banned from elite assignments.

Meanwhile, PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf was livid at the Hair's charges.

''This is the most preposterous thing I have heard. This is another manifestation of Hair's mental status. It is crass for him to say a black West Indian was let off [whereas] he was a white man and therefore he was charged,'' Ashraf said ''This is adding insult to injury. Race has nothing to do with this,'' the PCB chairman was quoted as saying.

''Hair was removed from the elite panel of umpires by the full ICC Board, which has many countries, because of his poor judgement,'' he added.

UNI