Reuters

London, Aug 22: Darrell Hair, the burly Australian at the centre of the ball tampering row which led to Pakistan forfeiting the fourth Test against England, has endured a fraught relationship with Asian teams throughout his 14 years as a Test umpire.

Hair, 53, a former fast bowler in Sydney grade cricket, no-balled Sri Lanka off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan seven times for throwing in three overs on the opening day of the second Test against Australia in Melbourne in 1995.

Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga responded by leading his team off the field.

When they finally returned, Ranatunga switched Muralitharan to the other end, where he was not called by Steve Dunne. Hair received death threats and did not stand in the 1996 World Cup in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Hair was robustly unrepentant in his 1998 autobiography "Decision Maker" in which he said the Sri Lankan's action was "diabolical" and added he was prepared to call him again.

In the following year, the India team in England were unhappy at some of his decisions and three years later Hair had an altercation with then India coach Kapil Dev during a match against New South Wales.

He also no-balled part-time Zimbabwe left-armer Grant Flower three times for throwing in 2000 and the controversies must have contributed to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to leave him off their initial elite umpires' panel in 2002.

In 2004 Hair and fellow umpire Billy Bowden reported Pakistan fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed for a suspect bowling action.

Controversy involving Pakistan flared again late last year in the second test against England at Faisalabad, when Hair called a dead ball because Salman Butt had run on the pitch.

After two earlier incidents involving the Australian, coupled with anger at what the Pakistan team considered Hair's officiousness, the team management reported their concerns to the ICC.

Hair's appointment this year for the England home Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan would have dismayed the respective teams.

Sri Lanka felt he denied them several clear-cut lbw appeals when Muralitharan was bowling.

Pakistan were incensed when Kevin Pietersen was given not out after what appeared to be a big inside edge to wicketkeeper Kamal Akram in the third test at Headingley. Pietersen went on to score 135, laying the basis for England's series-winning victory.

Sunday's furore, when Hair penalised Pakistan five runs and ordered a ball change, was the final straw for Pakistan who were adjudged to have forfeited the match when they failed to take the field in time after tea.

Hair, who has officiated in 76 Tests and 124 ODIs, is the fourth most experienced umpire ever behind Steve Bucknor (West Indies), David Shepherd (England) and Rudi Koertzen (South Africa). Whether he adds to those tallies may now be out his hands.

(Images courtesy: Reuters and Getty)