The International Cricket Council (ICC) charged Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq on Monday with bringing the game into disrepute after his team forfeited the fourth Test against England at The Oval. “There are two charges brought forward by the umpires, one for changing the condition of the ball and the other for bringing the game into disrepute,” Dubai-based ICC spokesman Jon Long said. Both charges were brought against Inzamam for his role as captain of Pakistan following the incidents which rocked the fourth day’s play of the final Test on Sunday. The hearing will take place on Friday. “The charge that was laid yesterday was a level two charge under the ICC code of conduct, of changing the condition of the ball,” ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said. “The charge that was laid today by all four umpires was for bringing the game of cricket into disrepute — this is a charge under level three of the code of conduct and is more serious than the other one.” Pakistan refused to take the field following tea on Sunday after they were docked five runs for ball-tampering by the umpires. They again remained in the changing room when the umpires went out a second time 15 minutes later. The team belatedly took to the field but the umpires ruled that the match was already abandoned and after a lengthy meeting it was awarded to England. If Inzamam is found guilty he would face a fine of up to his entire match fee and/or a ban of maximum four Test or eight one-dayers, whichever is played earlier. ICC’s chief referee Ranjan Madugalle would conduct the hearing in London as Mike Procter, the match referee for the Oval Test, was likely to be asked to give evidence at the hearing, the release said. Meanwhile, Pakistan have lodged a protest against Inzamam’s framing with the ICC. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan also promised to go ahead with the five-match one-day series and a Twenty20 game starting next week. Shaharyar said the PCB had also asked the ICC to ensure that Australian umpire Darrell Hair did not officiate in any more matches involving Pakistan. “We have had problems with Mr Hair before,” he said. “The team has lost confidence in him.”Question of Pak pride: InziIslamabad: Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq today said he kept his team off the field against England in the fourth Test because his country’s pride had been hurt. Inzamam also told private Geo Television that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should not let Australian umpire Darrell Hair take charge of any more matches involving Pakistan. “The pride of the nation has been hurt, we have been unfairly labelled as cheats,” Inzamam told Geo, explaining for the first time why he led the dressing room protest yesterday.“It’s not a question of myself and my team, it’s a question of my country. So we decided to protest and no player was ready to play.” Pakistan stayed off the pitch after the tea interval to register their anger at being penalised five runs by Hair and Billy Doctrove over allegations of ball-tampering.
