Controversy erupted when Pakistan refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day of the fourth Test against England [Images] last month after Australian Hair and West Indian Billy Doctrove penalised them five runs for ball tampering.

England were awarded the match on a forfeit and Pakistan captain Inzamam was subsequently charged with ball-tampering and bringing the game into disrepute by the International Cricket Council (ICC [Images]).

At a hearing at The Oval on Thursday, the ICC cleared Inzamam of the first charge because of a lack of evidence but banned him for four one-day internationals on the second charge.

"In fact, the ICC verdict totally negates what Hair did and said during and after The Oval Test," The News daily quoted Imran as saying on Friday.

"It is a victory for Pakistan, skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and other cricketers," said the man who led Pakistan to their only World Cup victory in 1992.

The 54-year-old Imran, who took 362 wickets and scored 3,807 runs in 88 Tests, said Hair should apologise if he "has some respect for moral values".

"I am delighted to see our team getting a clean chit. Hair did all he could to implicate them in an offence they never committed," he added.

Imran, who is now member of parliament, defended the ICC's ban on Inzamam, saying it was a "minor punishment".

"Had I been the captain I would never have stopped the game. Refusing to play is against the spirit of the game and against ICC's laid down code of conduct," he added.

The ban effectively rules Inzamam out of the Champions Trophy in India next month.

Hair will not be officiating at the Champions Trophy but says he wants to carry on umpiring.