Mumbai, September 26 :

India have asked the International Cricket Council not to consider controversial umpire Darrell Hair for next month’s Champions Trophy, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Indian cricket board secretary Niranjan Shah said that a letter had been sent to the ICC asking that Hair be kept out to avoid any trouble during the 10-nation tournament. 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 have already demanded that Hair be kept out of their matches in the Champions Trophy in India. The ICC was scheduled to name the umpires, but delayed the announcement.

Earlier this month, Hair was quoted in Australian media reports as saying that he expected to stand in the Champions Trophy.