Hair could return in May

The ICC have given their strongest indication yet that Darrell Hair, the umpire who was reinstated yesterday, will return to Test umpiring for England's home series against New Zealand in May.

Hair has undergone a rehabilitation period since he was effectively removed from international cricket - with the exception of umpiring the occasional Intercontinental Cup match - in the aftermath of England's forfeited Test against Pakistan at the Oval in 2006. Dave Richardson, the ICC's general cricket manager, said yesterday that the board will "probably keep him away from Pakistan matches where we can" but added that Hair's first real opportunity will come during England's first home series of the summer.

"Both teams rate Darrell Hair very highly," Richardson said. "It's likely that he will get an opportunity."

Hair's reinstatement has sparked outrage in Pakistan, with Inzamam-ul-Haq, who captained Pakistan in the Oval Test, saying he was "shocked and disgusted" by the news. Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan board chairman during the Oval Test, also expressed similar sentiments.