Karachi, Mar 20 ICC reasoned that Darrel Hair was "good enough" to be re-instated in its Elite-panel of umpires, but sources claim that the step was taken to avoid further legal wrangles and the subsequent financial loss.

The Australian umpire was re-instated by the ICC at its Executive Board meeting in Dubai on Tuesday .

ICC sources said the outgoing ICC CEO Malcolm Speed briefed the members, at its Executive Board meeting, about the possible legal challenges from Hair's lawyer, if he was not reinstated.

"The CEO pointed out that ICC had already spent around USD one million on legal costs after Hair filed a racial discrimination case last year against his suspension from supervising Tests and one-dayers despite being on the Elite panel of umpires," one source told PTI.

"Speed said, despite an out-of-court settlement, there were indications that Hair's lawyers intended to initiate more court proceedings if he was not re-instated and this would have cost the ICC more and also forcing some of its top officials appear in the witness box," the source added.

The source said the logic even convinced Pakistani representative Nasim Ashraf and it was decided unanimously that Hair should be re-instated, but only for the next 12 months. (Agencies)