Mohammad Amir should have immediately been safeguarded from the influences of Butt and Asif after the fixing scandal

Immediate thoughts after the scandal were that Amir should try to distance himself from Butt and Asif, in that this would give him a better chance at receiving a more lenient sentence if found guilty. He did not necessarily have to become informant in some kind of plea bargain, but just had to stop being associated with the captain and senior bowler that allegedly coerced him into the dirty world of fixing.

Yet not only has Amir shown no contrition, but he also appealed his provisional suspension along with Salman Butt, and foolishly also joined him in criticising the decision of Michael Beloff, the ICC code of conduct commissioner. Both were then critical the make-up of the tribunal that will this month decide their fate. Amir has also been filmed recently playing cricket with Butt, as revealed in an exclusive report by Sky Sports News’ Bryan Swanson. Swanson travelled to Pakistan and managed to speak with a confident looking Salman Butt at his residence in regards to the fixing allegations. Yet he was unable to get anything from Amir, who shied away from the cameras. That alone would tell you a lot about the relationship that existed between captain Butt and young Amir during their alleged fixes.

Amir has had time to think, time to question himself and his actions. He has had time to take good advice yet he has continued to stick to the story that they are completely innocent despite the evidence, and has continued to associate himself with Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif. As the teenager influenced by his captain, there was a lot of goodwill in the cricketing world for Amir. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should also have been quick in getting to him and getting his head straight yet they left him to these vultures. Did they not recognise they could save the biggest talent emerging form Pakistan since Wasim Akram from disappearing from the cricketing world at such a young age? But with a slap on the wrists from the ICC due to their years of ineptitude, the PCB were busy trying to put their own house in order and look good to the ICC in fear of any action against the board and it’s Chairman.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in England is at the same time considering bringing a criminal case against the three. Whether or not they are charged by the police, it should not necessarily affect the ICC’s own investigation and tribunal. The ICC just need to prove that the players acted on fixer Mazhar Majeed’s instructions and did not play honestly and to their best ability, and that would be enough for a guilty verdict. The video footage from the News of the World, if legitimate, would be proof enough it seems.

It is getting to the point where a life ban for all three of them, for the share cheek of their claims in the face of all this evidence, is deserving. Butt, with his denials, seems to be operating by the old adage that if you say something enough times then people will begin to believe it. Even now, I don’t think Amir at least quite realises the gravity of what he’s done. Maybe he needs a harsh punishment for him to realise. I hope not. If he does disappear from cricket, you would have to wonder what other skills he has as means to earn a living. It’s ok for many of us living in developed countries with decent educations; we can do bad, get punished but then find other ways to earn a living. But for Amir, that may just be it. If this is the result of banning him for life, would the punishment outweigh the crime even though the crime was such a serious one? If Amir does get banned for life, then he only really has himself to blame.

In an interview with Sky Sports News, ICC General Manager Dave Richardson, sitting in his nice office in Dubai, gave the most bizarre reason for why Pakistan should be more understanding and forgiving about Hair’s reinstatement and why Inzamam was wrong in saying he was “shocked and disgusted” by it.

Richardson said:

“If Pakistan had one of their best batsmen or best bowlers and he had behavioural problems, and the Pakistan board sent him on a rehabilitation course and he came back and said right, now I’m a changed man, surely you’d have to look at him and it’s only fair to look at him. Yes I can understand [Inzamam’s] feelings but I don’t think that’s fair”

Might I inform Mr Richardson that had one of Pakistan’s “best batsmen or bowlers” held the PCB to a $500,000 ransom, like Hair did with his employers the ICC, then I’m afraid that player would never be given the chance to represent his country ever again – probably at any level. Here is a man that asks for $500,000 in return for leaving quietly, and subsequently drags his employers into a tribunal but is now made out as some kind of angel. Your argument Mr Richardson is ill thought out, shallow and fundamentally flawed.

This is not the first time Darrell Hair has been involved in controversy. Another high profile instance was when he called Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing in Sri Lanka’s 1995-6 tour to Australia. The remarkable thing was that Hair was standing at the bowlers end when he called Muralitharan. How he could tell the degree of bend of Murali’s arm from behind is beyond me. Sir Don Bradman was quoted at the time as saying “This was the worst example of umpiring that I have witnessed and against everything the game stands for” “I believe Hair’s action – in one over – took the development of world cricket back by ten years.”

It is not yet clear what Darrell Hair’s “rehabilitation” involved. What the ICC should have done is sent him to the sub-continent to umpire in domestic or league cricket. This would have given him the chance to gain an understanding of a culture which he has continuously misunderstood and clashed with. He would have gained skills in how to deal with different players and it would have made him a more rounded individual (not in the physical sense obviously – that’s something he doesn’t need).

Those who argue in favour of Hair’s reinstatement say that most of the criticism that Hair receives is because of his strict application of the law and that he is unpopular because of this yet is still a good umpire. Support also came from Cricket Australia (CA) whose spokesperson told AFP “Cricket Australia has always had a view that he is, in a technical sense, an excellent umpire”. But they are missing the point. If you demand a pay-off from your employer in exchange for going quietly and unfairly accuse them of racial discrimination then you should not be employed by them any more. It should never have come to this stage as Hair should have been sacked after he made these demands and allegations.

There is also the underlying cause of why Darrell hair has always courted controversy, and that is his decision making skills. When he sent his infamous email to Doug Cowie of the ICC, the language used was quite astonishing. It gives us a clear indication that Hair was an authoritative totalitarian and someone who would not budge an inch once he had formed his opinion. This kind of confrontational attitude has no place in cricket, especially on the field where players sometimes need a calming influence in the heat of battle.

Excerpts of Hairs correspondence with Doug Cowie of the ICC, August 2006:

“I make this one-off, non-negotiable offer”
“I am prepared to retire/stand down/relinquish my position… on the following terms:”
“payment is to be the sum of US $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.”
“ICC may announce the retirement in any way they wish, but I would prefer a simple ‘lifestyle choice’”
“No public comment to be made by me as to possible reasons for the decision.”
“This offer in no way precludes me taking legal action”
“I reiterate this is a once only offer”
“It appears from overnight developments that the issue of racism has arisen and from advice I have just received, the sum indicated in my release offer is being revised.”

The above comments, calling Murali for throwing from the bowler’s end and accusing Pakistan of ball tampering, are just three examples of Darrell Hair’s lack of decision making skills. It makes no difference when Hair says he will try to improve his communication – it is clear what he communicates, we just don’t need it in cricket.

Though his contract expires in 12 months, I would not be surprised if it was extended beyond this. Causing the forfeiture of the first test in history, demanding a pay-off and alleging racial discrimination against his employer, not to mention all the controversy he has caused before, the ICC are taking a bigger risk than I think they perceive in reinstating Hair. Still, they will be praying that there are no more Hairy situations to come in the future – at least for their sakes.

It’s a gentlemen’s game, let’s have gentle-men officiating it.