Oz umpire Darrell Hair terms Pak cricketers “cheats and liars”

LONDON - Former Australian umpire Darrell Hair has termed Pakistan cricketers as “cheats and liars”, and criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for not taking action against fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for ball tampering.

Hair, who stood in 78 Tests and 135 ODIs, said that he feels vindicated following Pakistan’s troubled tour of England, which was overshadowed by a ’spot-fixing’ scandal.

“The fans, viewers and crowds have been watching cheats and liars. How long will they continue to part with their money to watch manipulated matches and players cheating? The ICC should be ashamed to allow these matches to take place,” The News quoted Hair, as saying.

Hair further said that action should have been taken against Shoaib due to the apparent evidence showing that the fast bowler had tampered with the ball during the final ODI against England at the Rose Bowl.

“Regardless of irrefutable evidence of ball tampering the ICC still choose not to take action, which is unsurprising given their record and inability to control their own game. The game must always go on seems to be their motto,” Hair said.

“Unfortunately the Pakistan cricketers show no respect for the game and continually attempt to cheat. The game as currently being played by Pakistan is a hoax and a fraud to the public,” he added.

During the tour of England, the ICC had suspended Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammed Amir and Mohammed Asif for alleged involvement in a 150,000-pound betting scandal with London-based agent Mazhar Majeed.

The sport’s governing body has also launched an investigation into the third ODI between Pakistan and England at The Oval after they received information from a British newspaper on the scoring pattern in the match. (ANI)