Hair then began a racial discrimination claim against cricket's governing body, which was later dropped.

Hair has also been accused by fans in India and Sri Lanka of making decisions in favour of other teams.

But Richardson hinted the Australian would not be barred from officiating in all matches involving Asian teams.

The former South Africa Test wicket-keeper added: "It's pointless having an umpire on the elite panel who is excluded from umpiring certain teams.

"There are always going to be stages in an umpire's career when he is not flavour of the month, but he will come up against an Asian team at some stage."

He continued: "Darrell Hair over time seems to polarise opinion, but a lot of his supporters will feel it is justified to bring him back and that he was unjustly kept on the sidelines in the first place."

Matches involving Pakistan, however, will not be on Hair's immediate agenda.