Sacked cricket umpire Darrell Hair has been reinstated after an 18-month hiatus.

Hair was umpire during the controversial fourth test between England and Pakistan in August 2006. He accused the Pakistani team of ball tampering and awarded five penalty runs to England. The Pakistani team protested by refusing to play. Hair and his fellow umpire, Billy Doctrove, declared England the winners by forfeiture.

Following an ICC hearing later that year, Hair was banned from umpiring international matches.

But now, it seems, Hair has been forgiven. The ICC described him as a “good, competent umpire” and have taken him back on their books.

But others have long memories, and the ICC wisely say they’ll keep Hair away from Pakistan matches as much as possible.

(Image: from Andy Todd’s flickr stream)