Wednesday, September 27 2006 13:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has asked the International Cricket Council not to include Australian Darrell Hair in the panel of umpires for the Champions Trophy next month to avoid 'crowd trouble', a top BCCI official says Tuesday (26 Sep, 2006).

"We have nothing against him (Hair). But since there is a controversy, we think it would be better if he doesn't stand in the Champions Trophy matches," BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah says at a press conference here.

"We don't want any trouble, whether it is media reaction or crowd trouble," he adds.

The Champions Trophy is to be held from October 7 to November 5.

Hair is at the centre of Oval Test controversy, which saw Pakistan forfeit the match against England last month after he penalised them for ball tampering.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was subsequently charged for ball tampering and bringing the game into disrepute.

Inzamam faces an inquiry in London today (27 Sep, 2006) and the day after, and a guilty verdict could result in a maximum penalty of a ban for four Tests or eight one-dayers.

Hair has a history of controversies with subcontinent players.

He called Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan for chucking in Australia in 1995 and then reported India's Harbhajan Singh for suspect action in 2004-05.