Put up or shut up — Hair

“If you have a problem, make your concerns now and we will have an investigation before the match referee,” Hair reportedly told the meeting called by West Indian match referee Cammie Smith in the presence of India, Pakistan and Australia skippers, managers, coaches and the other umpires.Hair described recent comments about Australian umpires as a slur to their honesty annd integrity while another umpire entered the meeting armed with clippings of articles he found offensive.

Hair was referring toPakistan Cricket Board secretary Shafqat Rana’s statement accusing the cricketing world of targetting Asian bowlers like Shoaib Akhtar for throwing, a charge subsequently denied by team manager Mohammed Nasir.

Smith said he was unaware Hair planned to speak at the meeting and that the umpires felt so strongly about the issue. Neither of the touring sides made any complaint at the meeting with the Pakistan team management breaking the tension with a light-hearted quip over the issue.

When asked afterwards whether he was happy with the meeting, Indian team coach Kapil Dev would only comment, “I am not happy, but I am not unhappy.”Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram was optimistic. “There were no problems. They gave a statement to the referee saying they are not biased and we don’t think they are biased. We think they are neutral as well. I have never had a problem with them,” he said.

Some officials present felt it could clear the air but others maintained that there may be lingering tension. The umpires hadreportedly been in touch with each other over the past few days before deciding on the course of action.