The ICC has decided to change the result of the controversial 2006 Oval Test between England and Pakistan from a draw to an English victory, reversing an earlier decision made last July. The ICC had then [changed the result](http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/359329.html) of the match from an England win - by virtue of a forfeit from Pakistan - to a draw. However, at its meeting this weekend in Perth, the ICC board agreed to act upon the [MCC's recommendation](http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/375446.html) to change the result back from a draw to an England win.
“After reconsideration of the matter, which included consideration of legal advice and input from the MCC, the custodians of the laws of cricket, the board decided that the original umpires’ decision to award the match to England, should apply,” an ICC release said. “I’m gratified the board reached the conclusion it did as this ensures the integrity of the game and the laws of cricket have been upheld,” the ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said. “I am especially grateful to the PCB for its understanding in this matter.”
The on-field umpires during that Test, Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove, had considered the match to be forfeited by Pakistan after they refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day following accusations of ball-tampering. The result had huge off-field ramifications as well. Hair went on to be suspended from the ICC elite panel, though that decision was overturned in 2007 when he took his employers to the High Court in London.
The Pakistan board, represented by chairman Ijaz Butt in Perth, was expected to oppose the move - it was the pressure from the PCB that had prompted the switch in results in the first place. However, the ICC board seems to have been swayed by MCC’s stance, one which had found favour with ICC president David Morgan as well.
“The ICC has no power under the laws of cricket to decide that results should be altered, whether it feels it’s ‘inappropriate’ or otherwise,” Tony Lewis, the chairman of the MCC’s cricket committee, had said. “The ICC’s decision is wrong and sets a very dangerous precedent. Cricket is the worse for this decision.”
The latest ruling meant England won the four-Test series 3-0 instead of 2-0
Although Inzi goofed up IMO by refusing to come out to play, this flip flop is bad (esp. as the ball-tampering accusation was vehemently rejected later by ICC referee Ranjan Madugalle) and almost vindicates the biased and arrogant decision of Darrell Hair.
Will Mr. Michael Holding now rejoin ICC in some capacity? He was one of the first people to cry like a baby at the ICC's decision to change the result of the Oval test match from an English victory to a draw in July 2008.
And it does seem that the ICC changed its stance again after protest from MCC in particular Mr. Tony Lewis. Is that also not setting a wrong precedent?
ICC have become joke. I don't know on what basis they changed the result back in July.
Pakistan captain must have been punished to the max. There must not be any mercy for the nonsense lack of professionalism on International level. There are legal ways to fight for any injustice or unfair play on field. But our Jaahil-e-Azam Inzi never believed in it. He was just an illiterate from the begining to the end of his career. Despite of my appreciation for his cricketing skills, I never liked him as captain.
Why can't we have a sensible captain who is 100% professional, 0% emotional.
Thank you ICC. Please keep up the hate. With our spineless, toothless and incompetent PCB, this is not a great surprise. What a "great" day for pak cricket. First they lose the right to host champions trophy, and then this.
While I have no sympathy for ICC as far as hair is concerned he is probably angry with the ICC for leaking his demand for $500k bribe for him to resign. The guy is a disgrace.
Inzamam's kam aqli led to us forfeiting this Test match. We were in the driving seat and would've won and made the scoreline a respectable 2-1. Protest he could've carried out after the match.
As I had indicated above Hair now feels he has been 'vindicated' by the latest ICC cock-up
No matter how hard Mr Hair tries to a be a smarta$$ and gives an impression that he feels vindicated, the bottom line is that this flip flop has got nothing to do with him. This flip flop started long after he was taken off from the elite panel after he made himself the laughing stock on numerous occasion such as:
by demanding money from ICC in exchange for an early retirement
trying to take ICC and PCB to court on charges of racial discrimination but later droping them within a week.
How can he feel vindicated when the major issue was never the reversal of oval test decision but restoring the honor of Pakistan and removing Darell Hair from ICC panel?
We all know the cheat slur was removed and Mr Hair was kicked out of the elite panel which eventually lead to his retirement. The racist prick was a disgrace and I am glad he is gone.
