Sport | Cricket
Oval result changes sparks resignation
West West Indies legend Michael Holding quit the International Cricket Council's (ICC) cricket committee in protest at the decision to change the result of the 2006 Oval Test.
- Staff Report
- Published: 23:14 July 5, 2008
Dubai: West West Indies legend Michael Holding quit the International Cricket Council's (ICC) cricket committee in protest at the decision to change the result of the 2006 Oval Test.
The ICC, at its board meeting in Dubai, changed the result from an England win over Pakistan to a draw.
Pakistan were originally ruled to have forfeited the match, something never before seen in a Test, following their refusal to take the field after tea on the fourth day having previously been penalised five runs for ball-tampering by umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove.
A subsequent hearing cleared Pakistan of ball-tampering and, on Thursday, the ICC took the extraordinary step of altering the match result.
Ball-tampering
Former fast bowler Holding, while accepting Pakistan were not guilty of ball-tampering, said their refusal to play should not go unpunished.
"When you take certain actions, you must be quite happy to suffer the consequences," he said while commentating for Sky Sports on Friday during Kent's semi-final win over Durham in English cricket's domestic 50-over event.
"That game should never, ever be a draw.
"I have just written my letter of resignation to the ICC cricket committee because I cannot agree with what they've done.
"A lot of things that are happening today I don't want to be involved with, so I've moved on."
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