Cricket: The hearing into Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq's actions during the Oval test ball-tampering controversy has been postponed, the International Cricket Council has said.
The postponement came after adjudicator Ranjan Magudgalle said he was unable to attend because of a family illness.
"The difficulty relates to the availability of Ranjan Madugalle to chair the hearing as he is dealing with a private and personal matter that requires his urgent attention," ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said in a statement.
Pakistan and host country England had both expressed a preference for Ranjan to hear the case and on that basis the ICC had agreed to the postponement, he added.
"We have looked at potential alternatives but, as the ICC's chief referee and a person with immense credibility within the game, Ranjan is the most appropriate person to adjudicate in this matter.
"We are yet to decide upon a new date but the intense nature of the upcoming one-day international series between England and Pakistan is likely to make it extremely difficult to fit in a hearing during that period."
Inzamam is charged with bringing the game into disrepute after refusing to take to the field following tea on Sunday, because of the Australian umpire Darrell Hair's assertion that his side were tampering with the ball.
The decision led to the first forfeiture in the 129-year history of test match cricket.
Criticism of Hair in Pakistan has shifted from initial dismay to a darkening mood of racial and political undertones after the Australian official and fellow umpire Billy Doctrove accused Pakistan of ball-tampering in the fourth test at the Oval.
Reaction in Pakistan - where Hair has been dubbed a 'mini Hitler' by former Pakistan captain Imran Khan - has focused on a perceived bias against Asian teams from Hair, who has also been involved in major incidents involving Sri Lanka and India.
Shane Warne has leapt to his fellow Australian's defence, saying that he was not racially motivated and was doing what he thought was right.
"He's not racist, he just tries to do the best job he can," the leg-spinner said. "The times I've had him he's been fine."
However, the Australia squad has also criticised Pakistan's decision to abandon play.
"We have never done it in the past and I can't see any reason why we would want to do it in the future," said coach John Buchanan.
"We play the game pretty aggressively but I think we always play it within the rules and the spirit of the game."