India's cricket chiefs added a new twist to the Darrell Hair saga on Friday, insisting there were no security concerns that forced him off the Champions Trophy panel.

"I don't know why the International Cricket Council has said that Hair was stopped from standing in the tournament because of security concerns," Indian cricket board secretary Niranjan Shah told reporters here.

"There are no security concerns in India. We have never said that Hair or any other umpire could face security problems."

Shah confirmed that the Indian board had earlier this week asked the ICC not to consider Hair for the Champions Trophy, but denied they cited security concerns as the reason.

Shah had told AFP on Tuesday: "We have nothing against the man (Hair), but since there is so much controversy surrounding him, it may be better that Hair is not appointed for the Champions Trophy.

"We don't want any trouble during the tournament."

Asked on Friday what he had meant by "we don't want any trouble," Shah said: "We had only expressed concern about the controversy surrounding him which could distract attention from the tournament."

The ICC announced on Thursday that Hair would not officiate in the October 7 to November 5 Champions Trophy due to "concerns over his safety and security and also the safety and security of those around him during the tournament."

The announcement came hours after Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was absolved of ball-tampering charges levelled against him by Hair and co-umpire Billy Doctrove during the infamous Oval Test against England last month.

Pakistan twice refused to take the field in the match to protest at the umpires' verdict, resulting in the first forfeited match in the 129-year history of Test cricket.

ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle said on Thursday he found no evidence of ball-tampering, implying that Hair had been wrong to accuse Pakistan of cheating and penalising them five penalty runs.

Madugalle's ruling raised speculation that Hair's international umpiring career may be over and his removal from the Champions Trophy panel was seen as the first step in that direction.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan on Thursday reiterated his stand that Hair should not stand in Pakistan matches and wanted the ICC to carry out an investigation into the umpire's conduct.

"We have already written to the ICC asking them to investigate Mr Hair's conduct in this Test and bringing the game into disrepute," Khan said.

Sri Lanka, who have been at loggerheads with Hair since he no-balled spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing in 1995, said earlier on Friday that Madugalle's verdict came after a "very fair inquiry."

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)