Hair wants to continue his career as a Test umpire

Hair's contract runs out at the end of next March and his position will be discussed at an ICC executive meeting in Mumbai on 3 and 4 November.

Speed said: "Darrell is one of the top umpires of the world. I hope we can find a way out for him to continue."

In August, Hair accused Pakistan of ball-tampering in a Test match.

He and fellow official Billy Doctrove imposed a five-run penalty and later awarded the game to England by forfeit after the Pakistan team protested by failing to take ther field at the scheduled time following the tea interval.

At a subsequent hearing, however, Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was cleared of a ball-tampering, but given a four-match ban for bringing the game into disrepute.

"I umpire matches in good faith and take the decisions I feel necessary on the field" was Hair's reaction to the outcome.

He added: "If we can't take the criticism we shouldn't be out there. I've handled it for 21 years and can still handle it when it's justified and when it's not justified."