Inzamam should be acquitted: Bird by AFP

---

Player:	Inzamam-ul-Haq
Event:	Pakistan in British Isles 2006

---

DateLine: 28th August 2006

 

Former Test umpire Dickie Bird believes Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq should be acquitted of the charges levelled against him following the controversial fourth Test against England.

 

Bird's comments come after the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed umpire Darrell Hair had sent an email requesting a payment of 500,000 US dollars to retire from the game following the furore at last Sunday's Test at The Oval.

 

Bird believes the ICC now have little option but to acquit Inzamam, facing charges of ball-tampering and bringing the game into disrepute.

 

"It is looking like the charges are going to be dropped," said Bird.

 

"It is looking in favour of Pakistan now and it is my regret that it ever came to this in the first place.

 

"Everybody should have used a little bit of common sense, tried to finish the Test match then thrashed it out behind closed doors.

 

"The public had paid a lot of money to watch a cricket match and they did not get it, so they might think twice about going back to cricket in the future."

 

Bird officiated in 66 Test matches during his career and believes much hard work needs to be done to rescue the image of the game.

 

"It is a very, very sad time for cricket and there is no doubt our great game has been badly hurt. But as in the past, I am sure it will eventually get over it," he said.

 

Former England captain Mike Atherton said it was "extraordinary" the ICC were yet to charge Hair with any impropriety.

 

Atherton said: "It seems extraordinary when you consider that Inzamam-ul-Haq has been charged on two counts - one of ball-tampering, for which nobody can find any evidence, and secondly for bringing the game into disrepute on the back of the first charge.

 

"So poor old Inzy finds himself under two charges, but Darrell Hair, after these extraordinary letters, finds himself under no charge whatsoever," Atherton told Sky Sports News.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)