London, September 28
Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq was today cleared of the ball-tampering charge but banned for four one-day internationals for bringing the game into disrepute, a verdict which could force him to sit out of next month’s Champions Trophy in India.

The Pakistan skipper was found “not guilty” by the International Cricket Council’s adjudicator Ranjan Madugalle for the more serious charge of ball tampering after a two-day disciplinary hearing at the Oval, the venue of the fourth Test against England where the tampering was alleged to have taken place.

Inzamam was, however, found guilty of the other charge of bringing the game into disrepute by refusing to take the field after tea on the fourth day of the match, which was eventually deemed to have been forfeited.

The four-match ODI ban is relatively less harsh considering that the charge could have invited a maximum ban of four to eight ODIs or two to four Tests.

The veteran batsman has 24 hours to appeal against the verdict. If he does, the ICC will have 48 hours to appoint a Code of Conduct Commission to hear the appeal and seven days from then to hold the appeal hearing.

Madugalle, ICC’s chief match referee, said the ban would be imposed with immediate effect.

“On two occasions he led a protest against the umpires. I have taken into account his expression of regret and apology. I decide that Haq should be banned for four one-day matches with immediate effect,” Madugalle said in a statement shortly after the hearing concluded.

The punishment means that the Pakistan captain will miss the first four matches of the Champions Trophy, to be held at four venues in India from October 7 to November 5. Only if Pakistan manage to reach the final, Inzamam will be able to take the field.

The ICC has allowed Pakistan to field a replacement for Inzamam in the squad which is now most likely to be led by Younis Khan.

With Inzamam being given a clean chit on the ball-tampering charge, a question mark hangs on the fate of controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair, who laid the charges along with his West Indian counterpart Billy Doctrove.

Hair has not officiated in any match since the Oval fiasco and it remains to be seen whether the ICC names him on the panel of umpires for Champions Trophy.

Both umpires were among the 11 witnesses who gave evidence during the hearing.

The other witnesses were fourth umpire Trevor Jesty, match referee Mike Procter, ICC’s referees and umpires manager Doug Cowie, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Shaharyar Khan, Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer and three experts for the defence — Geoffrey Boycott, Simon Hughes and John Hampshire.