Hair rejects ECB offer as reserve umpire

London, Feb 19 (UNI) Controversial umpire Darrell Hair has rejected an offer by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to be on their reserve umpires list for the coming season.

The ECB, who have had Hair on their reserve list on two previous occasions, again offered him a position for the 2007-08 season but the Aussie refused.

''The England and Wales Cricket Board has been informed by Darrell Hair that he is unable to accept the offer to be a member of the ECB reserve umpires list for the forthcoming season,'' an ECB statement said.

''The ECB acknowledge Mr Hair's contributions in the previous two seasons as a reserve umpire.'' Hair and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove were at the centre of a controversy that led to the abandonment of last summer's Oval Test, when Pakistan refused to take the field after being penalised for ball-tampering.

Hair has not stood in a Test since then but officiated in the recent ICC World Cricket League Division One final between Kenya and Scotland in Nairobi.

UNI