ICC postpone Inzamam hearing

A hearing scheduled for Friday into Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq's actions during the Oval Test ball-tampering controversy has been postponed, the International Cricket Council said on Wednesday.

The postponement came after adjudicator Ranjan Madugalle said he was unable to attend because of a family illness. Pakistan skipper Inzamam is charged with bringing the game into disrepute.

"The difficulty relates to the availability of Ranjan Madugalle to chair the hearing as he is dealing with a private and personal matter that requires his urgent attention," ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said in a statement.

Pakistan and host country England had both expressed a preference for Ranjan to hear the case and on that basis the ICC had agreed to the postponement, he added.

"We have looked at potential alternatives but, as the ICC's chief referee and a person with immense credibility within the game, Ranjan is the most appropriate person to adjudicate in this matter.

"We are yet to decide upon a new date but the intense nature of the upcoming one-day international series between England and Pakistan is likely to make it extremely difficult to fit in a hearing during that period."

The controversy began on Sunday in the fourth and final Test at the Oval in London when England were awarded five penalty runs after the umpires decided the ball had been illegally tampered with.

Pakistan staged a protest after the tea interval by refusing to take to the field and the umpires awarded the match to England, giving them a 3-0 series victory.