Spotted on blogcharm.com

If this blog had an award for hypocrit of the week, then it would surely go to Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, who is quoted in the Times as saying:

“Why should Hair offer to resign rather than face the inquiry? Why ask for money to do so?

“It indicates that Pakistan’s players were right to seek an inquiry in the first place. This revelation will only strengthen the resolve of the players and increase their support within Pakistan.”

This from a woman who has been dogged by allegations of corruption and still has an outstanding case of money laundering in the Swiss courts.

The coverage of the Darrell Hair letters, or more properly emails, has focused on the money. But the decision by the ICC to make the matter public has raised more interesting questions.

The Doug refered to is Doug Cowie, ICC Umpires and Referees Manager, who is Mr Hair's line manager.

The first email begins....

"Doug, just to firm up what we discussed earlier this evening. I appreciate the ICC may be put in a untenable position with regards to future appointments and having taken considerable time and advice, I make this one-off, non-negotiable offer.
I am prepared to retire/stand down/relinquish my position on the elite panel to take effect from 31st August 2006 on the following terms"

This would suggest that the ICC were in discussions with Mr Hair prior to his offer of resignation. And the implication of these discussions were that Mr Hair would not be appointed as an umpire in future.

It also suggests that there were arguements within the ICC about who should umpire matches and how these choices were made. And that Pakistan were refusing to allow Mr Hair to umpire future matches.

Mr Hair is clearly aware of the politics of the situation, and of the need to offer the ICC a facesaving device.

The reply he recieves is enlightening.

"Darrell, Your offer may have merit and is acknowledged and under discussions with ICC management.

Your timeframes seemed impractical at first glance even if agreement were achieved on the suggestion.

Will discuss this further tomorrow,
Doug "

His list of demands seems to have been discussed by the senior management. And there appears to be no serious problem. The sticking point would seem to be the timescale for the payment of money. Hair had asked that the matter be cleared up by August 31st.

This is another point that needs clarification, the email clearly states that the matter was being discussed by the ICC management. In order to understand events more clearly it is necessary that the ICC make clear at what level this matter was being discussed. Because the executive board of the ICC includes Shaharyar Khan, who is also the president of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Yet, the ICC claim they had to release this private correspondence, three days later, on legal advice, because it would have to be shown to the Pakistan Cricket Board.

This appears to be a canard. In order for it to be believed, it requires that the matter was not discussed by the Executive board, and further that the contents of the email was not shown to Shaharyar Khan, until after it was released to the press.

It also stretches belief that on the same day as the ICC released the correspondence, Pakistan announce that they will play the one day series, and the disciplinary hearing against the Pakistan captain will be put off until after the series has been played.

In reply to Doug Cowie, Hair then changes tack and withdraws his offer to resign.

"Doug, Phones have been ringing off the hook (or out of the mobile charger anyway!) since early this morning - ICC are not the only ones marshalling legal counsel.

It appears from overnight developments that the issue of racism has arisen and from advice I have just received, the sum indicated in my release offer is being revised.

Therefore the offer is withdrawn until I have had the chance to take further advice. Hope to get back to you within the next 24 hours."

Two things about this interest me. The first is that Hair has clearly taken legal advice, and seems to think that he has a very good case, and that his lawyers feel his compensation claim is on the low side. The second is that he appears unaware that people had been calling him a racist. These charges were made both in print and on the radio much earlier. It leaves one to wonder if there had been a formal charge of racism made against him within the ICC.

Perhaps it is Hair's mention of legal advice, but the correspondence is ended by the intervention of the Malcolm Speed, the CEO of the ICC.

"Dear Darrell, I have been given copies of letters that you have forwarded to Doug Cowie today concerning the current issue.

The matters raised by you concerning your future employment are entirely inappropriate. There is a clear process that is to be followed and it is in place. I will call you tomorrow to advise as to progress."

Which brings us back to the issue of constructive dismissal because Speed's attitude is that Hair has no business resigning, when the ICC are in the process of sacking him.

The issues at stake here are far more serious than the Hansie Cronje betting scandal. This case goes directly to the heart of the cricketing establishment.

And what is more, this attempt to besmirch the integrity of a senior umpire, has distracted from the more serious issue of ball tampering and the integrity of test cricket.

But then the Pakistan team have been spinning the story from day one. For instance they claimed that the ball was old and had been hit into the crowd and that this had damaged the ball. The only problem with this argument is that the sixes were not hit until after the ball had been changed