ICC appoint top ref for Inzamam hearing

Inzamam-ul-Haq will face the International Cricket Council's top match referee in a hearing on Friday after being charged with two major breaches of the Code of Conduct.

Inzamam, as captain, will have to answer two charges relating to "changing the condition of the ball" and "bringing the game into disrepute" following the controversial scenes in the final Test against England at the Oval.

The charges will be heard by the ICC's chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle, who took charge of the first three Tests in this series and is flying into London as Mike Procter, the match referee at the game, may have to give evidence at the hearing.

The first charge Inzamam faces, as captain, is a breach of Level 2.10 of the ICC Code which relates to changing the condition of the ball and he could face a penalty of between 50% and 100% of his match fee and/or a one Test or two one-day international ban if found guilty.

The second charge, which has again been levelled because he is the captain, is a level three breach of the code which relates to conduct that brings the player or the game of cricket into disrepute and carries far more serious consequences.

This charge has been brought by on-field umpires Billy Doctrove and Darrell Hair and reserve officials Peter Hartley and Trevor Jesty following a meeting with the match referee on Monday morning.

If he is found guilty of this charge, Inzamam could be suspended for the remainder of Pakistan's tour of England as he faces a ban of between two and four Tests or four to eight one-dayers.

Pakistan, who face Middlesex at Uxbridge on Thursday, have six remaining international matches remaining on the tour, beginning with a Twenty20 international at Bristol next Monday and followed by a five-match one-day series.