The Pakistani cricket team has signed up for a Darrell Hair replacement, insisting that the umpire participate in no further Pakistan Tests other than nuclear ones. However Pakistan captain Inzamam Ul-Haq said his interest had cooled after the umpire costed his replacement at $660,000.

Despite a history of controversial decisions against teams from the subcontinent, Hair has denied being a racist, at least compared to Dean Jones.

But the umpire has admitted that his strict adherence to the laws of cricket in the Fourth Test has forced him to report himself for chucking his career during the match.

Pakistan was reportedy considered refusing to play the upcoming one-day series against England, but have now relented. "Shoab Akhtar was particularly keen on the idea of not playing," a source close to the team said. "In fact, he's vowed to go on a go-slow for the rest of his career."

The Pakistan team said that its reputation was ultimately more important than cricket. "We cannot have Pakistan's proud name being associated with cheating in cricket," Inzamam said. "It may sully our reputation for terrorist training camps, torturing Western suspects and being the place where Osama bin Laden probably lives."

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed believes he may yet be able to broker an umpiring solution that could resurrect Hair's career. "I figure after a few consecutive Tests of Billy Bowden's quirky hand signals, Pakistan will be desperate to be umpired by anyone else," he said.

But Hair has proposed another solution. "I can guarantee that if I stood in the next Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, there would be absolutely no partiality whatsoever.