By IANS,
London : Controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair will make his return to international cricket when he officiates in the second Test between England and New Zealand at Old Trafford, starting later next month.
The 55-year-old Hair was removed from the elite panel after the infamous forfeited Oval Test between Pakistan and England in August 2006. He was reinstated to the elite panel of umpires last month by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Hair will after sharing the field with compatriot Simon Taufel in Manchester between May 23-27, will stand in the third Test from June 5-9 at Trent Bridge alongside West Indian Steve Bucknor.
The speculations have been rife that Hair would make his international comeback during England’s three-Test series against New Zealand after ICC general manager Dave Richardson said last month that they would take a “sensible approach” to his return.
Hair, meanwhile, is likely to be kept away from taking charge of Pakistan matches in the near future but Richardson said it would not make sense excluding him from umpiring particular teams altogether.
“It’s pointless having an umpire on the elite panel who is excluded from umpiring certain teams,” Richardson, the former South Africa Test wicket-keeper, was quoted by The Telegraph.
“There are always going to be stages in an umpire’s career when he is not flavour of the month, but he will come up against an Asian team at some stage,” he added.