Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board has been taken in by 'surprise' by the announcement that controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair would stand in a three-nation series in Kenya next week.

"We have read with interest the appointment of Hair. We have also read the ICC explanation that he has been named since it is an associate members' tournament -- involving Scotland, Kenya and Canada and not an international event," a PCB official told sources.

"We are going to discuss this at our meeting in Islamabad tomorrow and will then decide our next line of action. But our initial reaction is one of surprise certainly," he said.

Hair was suspended from officiating in international matches in November last year after Pakistan filed an official complaint about his conduct during the forfeited Oval Test.

"The fact is that when the board met and took a decision, ICC President Percy Sonn had clearly stated that the apex body had lost confidence in Hair's umpiring abilities.

"(Hence) it seems strange that he is being given an umpiring assignment even for an associate members' tournament," the official said.

"It would be premature to make any comment, but yes we are a bit surprised," he said.