Controversies have arisen time and again in the world of cricket, a sport with an extensive heritage. While players are frequently involved in these conflicts, it is the umpires, the game’s unpretentious overseers, who find themselves in the spotlight for inadequate reasons sometimes.
In this article, we look at some of the most controversial umpires in cricket history, individuals whose decisions have ignited heated disputes, inflamed emotions, and occasionally even harmed the spirit of cricket.
#5. Darrell Hair
Darrell Hair, the Australian umpire, etched his name into cricketing infamy during the fourth Test match between England and Pakistan at The Oval in 2006. Hair accused Pakistan of ball tampering and penalized them five runs. This incident made him the most controversial cricket umpire in the history of the sport. The Pakistan team, led by Inzamam-ul-Haq, vehemently denied the charges and refused to take the field, leading to the first-ever forfeiture in the history of Test cricket.
Hair’s decision to penalize Pakistan for ball tampering was highly controversial. Many believed it was based on assumptions rather than concrete evidence. The incident put Hair’s judgment and integrity under the spotlight, leading to his removal from the elite panel of umpires.
