da betsson： Try as he might, Darrell Hair just can’t hide from the limelight, evenin Nairobi. Cynics might wonder whether he feeds off it but, in ahastily arranged press conference on the first-floor lobby of theNairobi Hilton, there was evidence of a man fed up w
Will Luke in Nairobi07-Feb-2007
Darrell Hair umpiring in the World Cricket League final in Nairobi today as the news broke © Ian Jacobs/Cricinfo Ltd
Try as he might, Darrell Hair just can’t hide from the limelight, evenin Nairobi. Cynics might wonder whether he feeds off it but, in ahastily arranged press conference on the first-floor lobby of theNairobi Hilton, there was evidence of a man fed up with his lifeovershadowing the matches in which he officiates.”I can confirm I have instructed my lawyers, Finers Stephens Innocent,179 Portland Street, London, to issue an application to the LondonCentral Employment Tribunal,” he said, “alleging racial discriminationfrom the International Cricket Council and the Pakistan Cricket Board.Therefore it is inappropriate for me to make further comment as thismatter is yet to be determined by the tribunal.”But try as one might, it’s difficult to feel much sympathy for him. Onceagain he is in the spotlight; once again his dealings with the ICChave eclipsed the cricket. And today, he stole the limelight fromKenya who, in trouncing Scotland by eight wickets, took the inaugural WorldCricket League title. It was their day and the clutch of reporters andcameramen ought to have been back at the Gymkhana, where the final had been held, to report on the match – something Hair himself wished for.”I’ve just umpired a cricket match today. The World Cricket League issomething the ICC has really worked on,” he said. “I think it’s ashame other things have to overshadow that, and it looks like theyhave. I wish everyone here was reporting on the cricket match, and notthis.”I haven’t spoken to anybody about this. I hope you understand that Ihaven’t released any information about this. Somebody else obviouslyhas. I’ve got no idea who but I value confidentially, unfortunatelyI’ve discovered other people don’t.”That much we can sympathise with, but the timing of his application to theEmployment Tribunal (last Friday) was plain foolish. Had his lawyerswaited until the end of the World Cricket League, by which time Hairwould have gone home to batten down the hatches, this needlessdistraction could have been avoided. He, too, might have beenportrayed in a slightly fairer light rather than the bully who elbowedhis way into Kenya’s parade.Fortunately, Hair wisely chose to hold the press conference away from the Gymkhana and away from Kenya’s party. That it was staged on thelanding of a hotel; that he read a messy, hastily handwrittenstatement – and that he was legally unable to answer the majority ofthe questions fielded to him – rather summed up the whole affair. Abit of a mess. Lastly, just before shuffling into the lift, heconfirmed that today’s match was “his last for the time being”. Hisnext chapter might be about to get even messier but, for now, letKenya party long into the night.