Inzamam facing early judgement by AFP

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

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DateLine: 28th September 2006

 

Inzamam-ul-Haq could find out if he faces a ban from the International Cricket Council (ICC) as soon as Thursday after the first day of his disciplinary hearing ended here at The Oval.

 

The Pakistan captain is facing charges of ball-tampering and bringing cricket into disrepute arising from his role in the team's unprecedented forfeit of the fourth Test against England at The Oval last month.

 

His hearing is scheduled to last for two days.

 

Some three hours after the first day's deliberations ended Wednesday at 1600GMT an ICC statement said: "It is anticipated the adjudicator will reach his decision at some stage on Thursday."

 

ICC chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle, who is presiding over the hearing, has a maximum of 24 hours from the end of proceedings to announce his decision. That means a verdict would be made public by Friday local time at the latest.

 

However, there is nothing to stop the Sri Lankan revealing his findings at an earlier date.

 

Pakistan refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day of the fourth Test against England on August 20.

 

They did so in protest at the decision of umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove to penalise them five runs for ball-tampering earlier in the day.

 

Inzamam, who was accompanied into The Oval on Wednesday by Pakistan coach and former England batsman Bob Woolmer, made no comment when leaving the ground while Hair and Doctrove were equally tight-lipped.

 

So too were fourth Test match referee Mike Procter, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan and ICC umpires' manager Doug Cowie.

 

A total of 11 witnesses gave evidence Wednesday.

 

In addition to those named above, Pakistan called three English experts - England batting great Geoffrey Boycott, former Test umpire John Hampshire and ex county pace bowler turned television analyst Simon Hughes.

 

Oval Test fourth umpire Trevor Jesty also appeared before the hearing.

 

Evidence has now been completed and the next stage is for closing submissions to be made when the hearing resumes at 0900GMT Thursday.

 

Pakistan's legal team is being led by lawyer Mark Gay of London firm DLA Piper while Madugalle is being advised by David Pannick QC, one of England's leading sports law advocates.

 

Pakistan's refusal to take the field meant they forfeited the match - the first time this had happened in 129 years of Test cricket - and England were awarded a win which gave them the series 3-0.

 

After the match ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed revealed Hair had sent the world governing body an e-mail saying he would stand down from their elite panel of officials in exchange for 500,000 dollars - an offer the umpire later rescinded.

 

If found guilty of the ball-tampering charge Inzamam faces a fine of between 50 and 100 percent of his match fee and/or a one Test or two one-day internationals (ODI) ban.

 

And if the charge of disrepute is proved against the Pakistan skipper he faces a ban of between two and four Test matches or four to eight ODI matches.

 

Any suspension could affect star batsman Inzamam's participation in next month's ICC Champions Trophy one-day tournament in India.

 

It has also still to be confirmed if Hair will be umpiring at that event and, if so, whether he will be standing in any Pakistan fixtures after the PCB requested, following events at The Oval, that he banned from officiating in any of their team's future matches.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)