Dubai, Mar 25: Urging the media to respect the decision to reinstate Darell Hair, the ICC said the controversial umpire neded time to adjust after making his comeback to the international scene.

''Darrell (Hair) needs time and space to concentrate on his umpiring,'' ICC Umpires Manager Doug Cowie was qouted as saying by Cricket365.''We ask you in the media to respect that it is in the best interests of cricket that all our officials can perform at their best when there is less focus from the media,'' he added. ''We try to preserve that environment for officials wherever we can.'' Hair was dropped from the top-level umpiring after the forfeited Oval Test between England and Pakistan in 2006.

The Australian last week admitted the whole controversy ''caused me a lot of stress.'' The ICC also revealed Hair underwent a rehabilitation course.

''The course Darrell (Hair) undertook was aimed at improving comminication skills, body language and learning to be more aware of the views of others," the ICC's General Manager (Cricket) David Richards said.

''No one has ever disputed that he is a good decision maker. It is only fair that he be given a chance to put into practice what he may have learnt.''

UNI