MELBOURNE: Sydney umpires will wear black ribbons this weekend in support of Darrell Hair, who was sacked by the International Cricket Council as a result of the Oval Test fiasco.
The NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (NSWCUSA) has pledged to continue showing their support for Hair, a life member and former president of the association, with all umpires at Sydney grade and shire competition matches to wear the ribbons on Saturday.
Earlier this month, the NSWCUSA took out a full page advertisement in newspapers with an open letter criticising the ICC Executive Board for its decision to sack Hair from its elite panel.
A statement from the NSWCUSA said the decision to wear black ribbons was aimed at not just showing support, but also "to express concern at a total lack of respect for the role of the Umpire by the ICC along with demise in the idea of playing by the laws."
The ICC sacked Hair this month in the aftermath of August's controversial Oval Test between England and Pakistan that was forfeited by the tourists after they were deducted five runs by Hair for alleged ball tampering.
