Australia has demanded answers of cricket's governing body over the dumping of umpire Darrell Hair and has warned the saga threatens to jeopardise the sport's credibility on the world stage.

Hair was last week banned from umpiring at international level after the International Cricket Council (ICC) voted to have the Australian official removed from the elite umpiring panel for his part in the forfeited Test in England in August, when he penalised Pakistan for ball tampering.

At an ICC vote, the powerful Asian bloc of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh voted in favour of sacking Hair, and was supported by South Africa, Zimbabwe and the West Indies.

Only Australia, England and New Zealand supported Hair.

Cricket Australia (CA) on Monday demanded the exact reasons why Hair was stood down and called for the ICC to review its management policy of umpires as a matter of transparency and fairness.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said umpires had to be able to make professional decisions without fear of retribution and that the public needed to have confidence in the objectivity of elite umpires.

"The ability of umpires to make professional decisions without fear or favour is one of the key issues underpinning cricket's ambition to become a credible world sport," Sutherland said.

"We don't agree with the ICC's decision and are concerned about the implications which could see international umpires concerned about off-field consequences of calling decisions as they see them."

Sutherland said CA regarded Hair as one of the world's best umpires and would welcome him to officiate in domestic cricket if he decided to return to his homeland.

Hair, who lives in England, is yet to announce his plans for the future and whether he will sue the ICC for loss of income.

England was awarded the fourth Test on forfeit when Pakistan refused to take the field in protest against the ball tampering decision made by Hair and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove of the West Indies.

An ICC inquiry conducted by chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle in September cleared Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq of ball tampering, but found him guilty of bringing the game into disrepute.

Inzamam was suspended for four one-day internationals.

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