Dubai, Mar 19 Australian Darrell Hair was today re-instated as International Cricket Council's Elite Panel umpire after he was banned from officiating any international matches 14 months ago.

Hair was banned by the ICC in November 2006 after his controversial handling of the Oval Test in August 2006 between Pakistan and England and the subsequent revelation that he had offered the ICC to retire in exchange for USD 500,000.

In that Test, Pakistan refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day of the fourth Test after Hair and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove penalised them five runs on charges of ball tampering.

Hair and Doctrove then decided Pakistan had forfeited the Test, the first forfeiture in the 129-year history of Test cricket.

An ICC inquiry later cleared Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq of ball tampering although it banned him for four one-day internationals for bringing the game into disrepute.

Announcing Hair's reinstatement today, ICC President-elect David Morgan said at the end of the two-day meeting of the executive board that "Hair was a good umpire and that a decision taken after much deliberations by the panel. (Agencies)