Australian umpire Darrell Hair has withdrawn his racial discrimination case against the International Cricket Council at a London employment tribunal.

Hair's barrister Robert Griffiths told the central London tribunal his client had agreed to undertake a six month rehabilitation program, after which he may be considered for the appointment to the ICC elite panel of umpires.

"Darrell Hair withdraws unconditionally his allegations of race discrimination against the ICC board, its management and staff," Griffiths told the tribunal.

"Darrell Hair has undertaken to work with ICC management over the next six months in accordance with a rehabilitation program.

"At its board meeting in March 2008 the board will consider the results of the program and will then consider whether, and if so, under what terms Darrell Hair may return to umpiring elite panel full member Test matches and one day internationals."

ICC president Ray Mali welcomed the move.

"We are pleased that the issue has been resolved," Mali said.

"We obviously had no option but to defend these serious allegations."

Hair, who still has a contract with the ICC until March next year, will continue to umpire matches involving associate cricketing nations.

Hair had sued the ICC for racial discrimination over its November 2006 decision to sack him from officiating in top level matches.

Their decision followed the abandoned fourth Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval in August last year.

Hair and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove awarded victory to England after Pakistan refused to return to the field in protest at being penalised five runs for suspected ball tampering.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was cleared of ball tampering but found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute for leading the Pakistan protest.

Amid the controversy Hair offered to resign in return for a one-off payment of $US500,000.

He was subsequently stood down from matches involving Test playing nations.

Hair declined to make any comment after the tribunal closed, but his solicitor, Paul Gilbert, said the Australian was pleased with the outcome.

"He feels relieved and glad that it's all over and he does feel that this is in the best interests of all of the parties," Gilbert told reporters.

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed also welcomed the outcome.

"I'm very pleased that the allegation of racial discrimination against the ICC has been unconditionally withdrawn, this was the objective that the ICC was seeking to achieve throughout this case," Speed said.

Speed did not go into detail about the nature of the rehabilitation program Hair would undertake, saying that was yet to be determined.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it would not comment on the outcome of the case until it had received details from the ICC.

"We don't want to say anything on it until we have heard all the details officially from the ICC," a PCB spokesman said.

"As far as we know his withdrawal of the case was unconditional but since this issue is important to us we will be looking into it for a future course of action."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP