Australian umpire Darrell Hair has apologised to his family and friends over his email demand for $US500,000 ($A657,940) in return for his retirement from international cricket.

Hair, who last week sent an email to the International Cricket Council offering to quit if he received the money, was also withdrawn Tuesday from an English county second XI fixture he was due to officiate in on Wednesday.

"I wish to apologise to all my family, friends and supporters, because I somehow feel that I may have let them down, simply by sending an ill-advised but entirely confidential email that has given other people the opportunity to question my motives," Hair said in a statement.

"I firstly want to thank my friends and family for their support. In addition, I want to thank so many supporters from around the world, for their support in huge numbers.

"I am both stunned and gratified by those messages from people I've never even met."

Hair also asked that his privacy, and that of his neighbours in Lincoln - the eastern England town where he lives, be respected.

His offer to stand down was described as inappropriate by ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed.

The proposal, made public by the ICC last week, came after Hair was at the centre of controversy during the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval in London.

Hair penalised Pakistan five runs for suspected ball tampering.

Pakistan then refused to return to the field after tea, prompting the umpires to rule they had forfeited the match and award victory to England.

Pakistan have since criticised Hair's attitude, while captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has been charged with two breaches of the code of conduct.

Hair had been due to umpire in Derbyshire's match against Gloucestershire at Chesterfield on Wednesday.

But England and Wales Cricket Board umpires and match operations manager Chris Kelly said the circumstances warranted Hair's removal from the match.

"It is inappropriate for him to do the match with what is going on," Kelly said.

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