Australian umpire Darrell Hair will not officiate at the ICC [Images] Champions Trophy in India next month, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday.

ICC said the decision to omit Hair was down to safety and security concerns. Earlier in the week, the Board of Control for Cricket in India had written a letter to the ICC asking them not to appoint the Australian umpire for the Champions Trophy to be held in India next month.

Hair alleged ball tampering against Pakistan in the fourth and final Test at the Oval against England [Images] which led to its forfeiture and Pakistan and India later objecting to him umpiring in the prestigious Champions Trophy.

Pakistan's captain Inzamam-ul-Haq [Images] was earlier cleared of the ball-tampering charge after a two-day ICC hearing in London [Images].