Hair Caught with his Hand in the Cookie Jar

A few hours ago a stunning press conference in London literally shook the cricketing world, this developing hot story resulted in a post on this blog moments later titled Hair offers $500,000 to quit. Malcolm Speed made a startling revelation of an exchange of emails between ICC and Darrell Hair. The actual copy of the email can be found at Cricinfo – Actual images of the emails.

Darrell Hair on 22th August wrote a carefully worded and thought out email to Doug Cowie indicating his terms of retirement.

I make this one-off, non-negotiable offer. I am prepared to retire/stand down/relinquish my position on the elite panel to take effect from 31st August 2006 on the following terms:

A one-off payment to compensate the loss of future earnings and retain a payment over the next four years which I believe would have been the best years I have to offer ICC and world umpiring. This payment is be the sum of [US dollars] 500,000 – details of which must be kept confidential by both parties. This sum to be paid directly into my account by 31st August 2006. Cricinfo – Full Transcript of Emails

This seems more like a terrorist holding someone for ransom or can also be seen as an offer to accept a bribe. A direct deposit to his bank account {in unmarked bills} on 31st August or then the offer expires and he continues to torment the cricketing world with his racist umpiring till 31st March 2008 – I think his offer seems better then to have to suffer this bloated racist another two years. This statement is even more suggestive of his guilt, a person who could be worried about the upcoming ICC hearing. If he was so fully convinced of his decision then he should have written a letter based on principles, discussed with the ICC his loyalty to the game and his attempt to follow the rules by the book. A resignation based on the conditional exchange of a large amount of money does indeed weaken his credibility to a remarkable extent.

Hair has just also made a statement withdrawing his resignation

“There is a now a communication from myself to the ICC in the public domain. This correspondence was composed at a very difficult time and was revoked by myself two days after a period of serious consideration. There was no malicious intent behind this communication with the ICC.

“I am anxious that the Code of Conduct hearing takes place as soon as possible so that these matters can be resolved and allow me to move on with my umpiring. “This is the only public comment I will be making on this matter and I request that the privacy of my family is respected at this time.” Cricinfo

Having a good heated discussion with a few lawyer around town, everyone felt that his first letter itself will overshadow his withdrawal, seriously affecting Darrell Hair’s case to defend his ball tampering charge and if he were to be sued in court it would potentially leave a large dent in his wallet well beyond the $500,000 he hoped to rake in.

Mike Athertons reaction to this developing story

It’s hard to see how Darrell Hair can umpire at any future international match. They have made his position untenable now. To imagine he can umpire down the line in international matches is hard to see. It seems extraordinary when you consider that Inzamam-ul-Haq has been charged on two counts – one of ball-tampering, for which nobody can find any evidence, and secondly for bringing the game into disrepute on the back of the first charge. So poor old Inzy finds himself under two charges, but Darrell Hair, after these extraordinary letters, finds himself under no charge whatsoever “

Darrell Hair start packing your bags, hire a good lawyer and prepare your insurance company to cover the damages that will come at you. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD