For years sport has provided us with surprises. Some, such as Warne or Lara's brilliance, have given pleasure and exhilaration; some, such as match-fixing, have brought dismay. This week, for the first time, I believe people may have been left speechless.

Yes, we were shocked when the news first broke about a positive drugs test. But people had been talking about the possibility of anabolic steroids being used so it was more of a disappointment than surprise.

No-one could have ever predicted that a Test match would be forfeited. It's just not cricket.

It was a sad day for our sport. Until there are answers, the episode continues to damage the game. This is the time for the ICC to stand firm and do the right thing.

There are two main issues. Firstly, did ball-tampering occur and did the umpires handle the issue correctly?

And secondly: how should the ICC deal with Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq not leading his side out after tea?

I find it hard to believe that the umpires - however officious they might be - didn't know what the repercussions would be. I can only assume, until more evidence is available, that Darrell Hair must have acted with good knowledge.

If it was just one man's moment of madness, then surely Billy Doctrove, the junior umpire, would have intervened? He must have known that he was about to be dragged into a horrible situation and should have been able to deal with the situation rationally. Remember, these two men have been chosen by the ICC as part of an elite group of very experienced umpires.

While Hair is receiving a great deal of criticism, I can only believe that he did what he felt was right to change the ball. I do not see the reason for delaying the decision until a break or the end of the day. It has been proven that reverse swing can change the course and result of a match in the space of one bowling spell, so if an umpire believes what he has witnessed persuades him to take such action then I think he is right to act on it immediately.

While we have no television footage of ball tampering during the game, if Hair does provide enough evidence to back his decision then I hope he will be supported by all members of the ICC.

The second issue is the fact that the Pakistan team did not take the field of play after tea. The responsibility for that must fall on Inzamam.

Only those in the Pakistan dressing room will know how that decision was reached. I just find it hard to believe that they decided that to not take the field of play was the best form of action. It seems that the decision was not solely based on what had happened in this game but what is happening in the rest of the world today.

I totally disagree with Pakistan threatening to abandon the one-day series. It is simply a threat ahead of the hearing. If Pakistan were to pull out of the one-day series I'm sure their World Cup participation in March could be in jeopardy.

It is important that the ICC act firmly and fairly. Anything less will see the incident recurring. It is a shame it's taken the ICC so long to arrange the hearings, however. It needed to be acted on immediately. There are match referees who could have acted as chairmen in the absence of Ranjan Madugalle to make an independent and honest decision as to what action is required for the good of the game.

I don't for one minute believe this to be an easy decision. But I do believe that, for the right decision to be made, that the nationality, race, religion and past history of both personalities needs to be put aside.

Hair and Inzamam are both strong-minded individuals. They have acted in a way they thought right at the time. It would be interesting to see if they would both make the same decisions if we were able to wind the clock back. I think

Hair would, but I feel that Inzamam could have earned a great deal more respect had he taken the field, won the Test match and then protested against the actions.

It has been a joy to watch the Pakistan team this summer. They are blessed with some magnificent talent and have proved to be good ambassadors for the game.

So what a shame that such a super series should end with this controversy. Considering the history of the two teams and the difficult time the world is facing today, I just hope this matter does not spoil the relations between England and Pakistan.