ICC makes U turn, re-awards Oval Test to England

Perth, Feb 1 (PTI) The International Cricket Council (ICC) Sunday did a volte-face and re-awarded the infamous 2006 Oval Test to England, a match that was originally deemed forfeited by Pakistan but declared a draw by the ICC last year.

"After reconsideration of the matter, which included
consideration of legal advice and input from the MCC, the
custodians of the Laws of Cricket, the Board decided that the
original umpires' decision to award the match to England,
should apply," the ICC said in a statement after a two-day
Executive Board meeting that ended here Sunday.

Interestingly, the ICC Board had earlier changed the
result to "match abandoned as a draw" in July last year.

The Oval Test became the first forfeiture in the history
of Test cricket after controversial Australian umpire Darrell
Hair and his West Indian colleague Billy Doctrove awarded it
to England on the fourth day.

The umpires' move was prompted by Pakistan's refusal to
take the field after Hair had accused them of ball tampering
and penalised them of five runs, a decision that infuriated
the then Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said re-awarding the
match to England will "uphold the laws of cricket" and thanked
the Pakistan Cricket Board for accepting the decision.

"I'm gratified the Board reached the conclusion it did as
this ensures the integrity of the game and the Laws of Cricket
have been upheld. I am especially grateful to the PCB for its
understanding in this matter," he said.

The decision left Hair, who was sacked from the elite
panel, vindicated. The Australian won a legal battle against
the ICC to get himself reinstated last March before quitting
the panel. PTI PM