England cool on Pakistan proposal

Inzamam and Hair at The Oval Test

England are unlikely to be able to play a one-off match against Pakistan next summer by way of compensation for lost revenue from the forfeited Oval Test.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed Pakistan have offered to play a one-day international but said the busy schedule could prevent it.

England are demanding £800,000 from the PCB after the Test ended in farce.

"We are appreciative of Pakistan's offer and are exploring all options," an ECB spokeswoman told BBC Sport.

"England have a packed schedule next summer and it is unlikely this one-day match could be accommodated."

The PCB has refused to pay compensation because it believes umpire Darrell Hair was to blame for the forfeiture - not Pakistan.

But the PCB and ECB confirmed talks had taken place about alternatives.

Pakistan will be in England in July as they are scheduled to play a Prince's Trust match against India on the 12th.

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The official said: "We have told (ECB chairman) David Morgan that we are willing to play a one-dayer next summer in England and revenues earned from that game after deducting expenses can be taken as compensation."

The match became the first Test to be forfeited in the history of Test cricket when Pakistan, led by captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, initially refused to play after tea in protest at being penalised five runs for ball-tampering by umpires Hair and Billy Doctrove.

At a subsequent disciplinary hearing Inzamam was cleared of unfairly altering the condition of the ball although he was banned for four one-day internationals for bringing the game into disrepute.

And last week the International Cricket Council voted to remove Hair from the elite list of umpires because it "had lost confidence" in him.

The official said he hoped England would agree to the one-day match, adding: "We want a settlement despite the fact that Hair's removal had vindicated our stand."