Hair remains an ICC umpire and stood in Nairobi on Wednesday

Hair, who was barred Tests after the forfeited match at The Oval in August, announced on Wednesday his decision to sue the ICC and Pakistan's board.

"The ICC does not believe there is merit in this claim and will vigorously defend the matter," said a statement.

"Given the ongoing nature of proceedings, the ICC will not be making any further comment at this stage."

Report: Umpire Hair to sue cricket authorities

Interview: PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf

Our client would not have been treated in this way if he had not been a white umpire Statement from Hair's solicitors

Hair believes the Pakistan Cricket Board "unlawfully induced" the International Cricket Council to engage in discriminatory acts when it lobbied for his ban before a November meeting.

Dominican Billy Doctrove, his fellow umpire in the game when Pakistan were accused of ball-tampering, is now back in action.

A statement from Hair's solicitors, Finers, Stephens, Innocent, said: "It is our view, and that of our client, that he has been treated in an unacceptable and appalling manner.

"The reality in this case is that our client would not have been treated in this way if he had not been a white umpire."

"These proceedings seek a declaration that the ICC has discriminated against Darrell Hair by reason of his race, as well as for damages and losses which he has suffered as a result."

Hair held a press conference in Nairobi on Wednesday, after standing in the ICC World Cricket League final between Kenya and Scotland.

It is crass for him to say a black West Indian was let off [whereas] he was a white man and therefore he was charged PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf

His contract as an elite umpire runs until March 2008 but he will not be allowed to stand in games involving Test nations.

On 20 August, Hair and Doctrove awarded England a five-run penalty because they believed the ball had been interfered with.

The Pakistan team refused to resume play after the tea interval in protest against the decision, leading to the first forfeiture in 129 years of Test cricket.

ICC adjudicator Ranjan Madugalle later cleared Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq of ball-tampering charges.

Hair offered his resignation in exchange for $500,000 (�254,500) in the wake of the match.

PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said he was "simply outraged" when his lawyer passed on Hair's written claims.

"It is crass for him to say a black West Indian was let off [whereas] he was a white man and therefore he was charged," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.