ISSN: 1391 - 0531
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Vol. 41 - No 19
 
Sports

Doctrove docked

Umpire Billy Doctrove has no complaints about being left off the list of match officials for the ICC Champions Trophy, which starts in India on Saturday.

Umpire Billy Doctrove

Doctrove and Darrell Hair were the two umpires at the centre of controversy during the recent Oval Test between England and Pakistan.

"It's not a surprise to me," Doctrove told the BBC Caribbean Service.

"I was told of that decision even before I went to the ball-tampering hearing in England two weeks ago."

Hair, perceived as the senior umpire at The Oval, had been expecting to officiate at the Champions Trophy, but was recently removed from the list for what the ICC described as safety and security reasons.

He and Doctrove awarded the Test to England by forfeit after Pakistan protested at their earlier decision to penalise them for ball-tampering.

Not everybody can be chosen for every tournament or every series

At a subsequent hearing, Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq received a four-match ban for bringing the game into disrepute but was cleared of a ball-tampering charge by adjudicator Ranjan Madugalle.

Doctrove insisted his conscience about the matter was clear and that he had been assured his part in the affair was not the reason he was left out of the Champions Trophy.

"I was informed it was not and I trust the ICC," he said.

"I was informed that not all the elite umpires would be chosen. Not everybody can be chosen for every tournament or every series.

"Darrell and myself acted in accordance with the laws of the game and when we took our decision we took it honestly and to the best of out ability.

 
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