Pakistan want Inzamam hearing before Monday

KARACHI: Pakistan plan to ask the International Cricket Council (ICC) to hold a disciplinary hearing into captain Inzamam-ul-Haq's actions in the fourth Test with England before Monday.   

A Pakistan Cricket Board official said on Wednesday that they were willing to accept a replacement adjudicator, former West Indian all rounder Clive Lloyd, to speed up the process after a postponement caused by the enforced absence through a family illness of ICC chief referee Ranjan Madugalle.   

The official also said that Thursday's tour match against Middlesex would go ahead.   

“We are talking to the ICC about having the hearing before the first match (on Monday). There's no problem appointing Clive Lloyd -- he is in Manchester,” the official added.   

It had been thought that because of the postponement of Friday's hearing the ICC would delay an investigation into the ball tampering controversy at The Oval until after the five-match one-day series which starts next week.   

But Pakistan players are understood to be keen to clear the matter up before a Twenty-20 game against England on Monday at Bristol.   

Captain Inzamam and coach Bob Woolmer had suggested earlier this week that the tourists could refuse to play the one-day series if he were banned.   

The row centres on a decision by the umpires to award a five-run penalty against Pakistan for ball tampering.

Inzamam's team refused to emerge for the final session's play and the match was eventually forfeited by Pakistan. The Pakistan players vehemently deny any wrongdoing.