Controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair will not officiate in next month's Champions Trophy in India because of security concerns.

Hair was at the centre of a damaging row last month over the ball-tampering allegations against Pakistan that led to the Oval Test against England ending in a farce.

Pakistan, incensed that Hair accused them of ball tampering by penalising the team five runs, refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day.

Hair and fellow-umpire Billy Doctrove of the West Indies awarded the match to England, resulting in the first forfeiture in the 129-year history of Test cricket.

Pakistan captain Inzaman ul-Haq was on Thursday cleared of ball-tampering but found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute and banned for four one-day internationals.

Hair, 53, said he accepted the ICC's decision not to employ him as an umpire at the 10-nation Champions Trophy but added: "Of course I wish to keep on being an umpire.

"My umpiring performance or career is on public record and if other people consider I am still good enough to umpire I will continue.

"I umpire matches in good faith and take the decisions I feel necessary on the field.

"My contract with the ICC states I must umpire to the best of my ability and apply the laws of cricket, honestly and fairly. I'm out there doing my best," said Hair, a veteran of 76 Tests.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)