West Indies umpire Billy Doctrove on Thursday announced his retirement from the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Elite Panel.
Media reports quote an ICC statement confirming that Doctrove has announced his retirement from umpiring and will not be seeking an extension to his contract which expires at the end of this month.
Dominican Doctrove was due to officiate in the forthcoming ODI and Test series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, starting in Pallekele from June 7, but has withdrawn from what would have been his last assignment as an elite panelist.
He explained that he had to return to Dominica due to a family bereavement.
His decision means that the second Test between New Zealand and South Africa in Hamilton in March has in effect been Doctrove’s last appearance as an elite panelist.
This brings down the curtain on an outstanding career in top-level umpiring in which the 56-year-old stood in 38 Tests, 112 ODIs and 17 T20Is, including the final of the ICC World Twenty20 2010 between England and Australia in Barbados.
Doctrove, born July 3, 1955 in Marigot, Dominica, made his ODI debut April 4, 1998 in a match between the West Indies and England in Kingstown, St. Vincent, and two years later in Antigua stood in his first Test between the West Indies and Pakistan, a match which the home side won by one wicket.
Doctrove was promoted to the International Panel of ICC Umpires in 2004 before being elevated to the elite panel in April 2006.
Doctrove, reflecting on his decision and career, said: “After much consideration I have informed the selectors of my decision to retire. It has been an incredible 14 years for me as an international umpire and I have enjoyed every moment of it. It has been a dream journey and to supervise international matches which were played by many great players at iconic venues.”
“I am also honored and privileged to have been part of the transformation process in cricket with the introduction of technology which is now considered as an integral component of international cricket and the introduction of the revolutionary twenty20 format which has taken cricket to a completely new level.It was a highlight to umpire in the ICC World Twenty20 final in Barbados. That was a special and an unforgettable occasion.”
“I am extremely thankful to my family and friends worldwide, for their support and encouragement that they afforded to me during my career.I would also like to thank the WICB and the ICC for the many opportunities they provided me to serve this wonderful game,” he said.
Billy Doctrove on Thursday morning confirmed on state-owned DBS Radio that he was giving up umpiring at the international level.
He said he was quitting at that level to spend some time with his family, because he has had to contend with a punishing travel schedule while umpiring matches around the world.
Doctrove said he intends continuing to carry out umpiring duties at regional level, and indicated that he would like to engage in training initiatives to pass on some of his umpiring skills acquired after years of being involved in cricket umpiring.
Sir Billy Doctrove!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Billy on the Queens jubilee anniversary should have been recommended to be knighted :in my books Billy Doctrove will now be refferred to my me as Sir Billy Doctrove- well done old chap!!
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Thank you Sir, you made us all proud.
Indeed a job well done.
SIR JOB WELL DONE. ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT.
Well done Ambassador Doctrove. You are truly an inspiration. Dominicans are proud of you.
lol job well done??? lolzzzzzz
you made
us proud Billy we will miss you, you are a true ambassador
Well done Mr Doctrove!
Well admin: i see you are bias, because i told you to change the headline instead of saying the man resign instead of saying he RETIRED you did not post my comment. There was no cursing or disrespect but just a correction. I wonder why you even run a blog..delete again
could have done a couple more years. remember your match with Daryl Hair…[parkistan]..
Well done Billy- You have made Dominica proud and well known to the rest of the world. You have marketed Dominica in a positive light and because of you, the world knows the name Dominica. We love you and respect you and wish you all the best in your future endeavors. God Bless you and your family.
I commend you Mr.Doctrove for your courage to step down at that time in your career siting the reasons for your departure. You are not like the other retirees who die in office when they should be playing with their grand children and allowing the unemployed youth to remain idle while they cash big checque
Yes I agree with the comment Mr.Doctrove we Marigotian are very proud of you and the wonderful way you that you executed the job we will miss you on the grounds but we understand at some times one have to do what is right for family and self and I know that you will enjoy your retirement good luck to you sir.
Billy made us all proud to be Dominicans. Job well done Billy!
Billy you have done Dominica well and have elevated this country to a very reputable status in the world of sports. Job well done. Will definitely miss looking out to see who’s offficiating and whether Billy is there – like at the just concluded IPL. Wow!! Anyway my encouragement is that you find a way to pass on that great knowledge and passion for the game to some younger folks.
Job well done Mr. Doctrove.extremely proud of you.by the way thanks for my aussie t-shirt.it will forever remind me of your massive contribution to world cricket.a bitter-sweet moment indeed!!!
You are truly a great son of the soil Billy. Where others failed to excel, you sacrificed time away from family, work and friends to place Dominica on the International scene in umpiring. Thanks for being a role model, for taking up each task with integrity and for always keeping a positive mindset while undertaking your duties. God bless you in your future endevours.
Blessings! and thank you for your services to Dominica and the rest of the world You`re truly a role model and you carried yourself well throughout your reign. Good luck going forward to you and your family. Hope the powers that prevail utilized your skills and vast experience to assist in shaping Dominica. Our prayers are with you every time.
Good job over the years Billy. Will toast to your service next time I’m in D/A.
BIG THANKS TO YOU MY BROTHER WE ALL MUST BE HAPPY OF YOU AND THE WAY YOU DID YOUR JOB IN MAKING DOMINICANS NAME OUT THERE HOPE WE ALL CAN DO SOMETHING BIG FOR YOU SOME TIME SOON HOPE WE DONT WAIT TO LONG TO DO AND SAY ALL THE GOOD YOU DO FOR ALL OF US OUT THERE AND BACK IN DOMINICA ONE MORE TIME THANK YOU AND THE REST OF YOUR FAMILY FOR SEEING THE NEED THAT YOU HAD TO BE AWAY FROM THEM FOR THE GOOD OF ALL ONE LOVE TO ALL DOMINICANS
Superb standing in all your matches. The ICC will have a void to fill.
Perfectionism Personifies!
One of the great Cricketing Umpires – a son of the soil Billy Doctrove. Good umpires make good cricket matches; this is why the The ICC appointed him to the elite panel because of his correct decision ratio of all the umpires who officiate in the WI league.
Noted for his perfectionism, acute aural skills and astonishing memory. It’s always good to hang up your boots on a high!
Now pass on the knowledge becasue we need another D/can at the helm, representing the Nature Isle on the international Cricketing stage
Job well done. Thank you Mr. Doctrove. You are an inspiration to young Dominicans.
well done billy
Well Done Billy. You have an impeccable record. Real giant shoes for other Dominican umpires to wear. Wishing you the best in all your future endeavours
Like your brother Chaucer, your love for cricket propelled you to the top. When you reached that pinnacle, you excelled, making your family, friends and the island of Dominica proud.
Great Job Billy.
He is surely a good bloke i know him pretty well from the Saints Days up at Goodwill, what i admire about the Bro, was how calm and humble he is very approachable bloke who never made it get to his head.
Its nice when a Pro leaves on a high note, as there are some many who believes that companies and institutions are their estates.
All the Best Billy in your endeavours God Bless Ya!
Billy
Job well done.
You’ve made us so proud. Best Wishes.
You mean the from Marigot pa pa bondie and they have like is a town man!
Anyway bro congrats for a job well done!!
We should make u an ambassador @ large.
He was born there…not raised nor brought up in Marigot.. I was born at PMH. I not from Goodwill?? Get it???
but he was born in Marigot and he always let the world know that he was never ashamed of Marigot as you seemed offended by that dont hate we are all Dominicans
i always admire Billy for letting us know he was born in Marigot his father was a policeman and his mom was a teacher there right on the bay front they live.. you did a good job and we love u for that
Well Done boss.
Sad but what can one say?
Well Done
Great job over the years Billy Doctrove. Thanks for your work in world cricket and your representation of Dominica on the international scene.
Well done Sir and thank you
Ok Mr.Doctrove…well done.Although i would be happier to see you lifting that finger to nail somebody.We Dominicans love you to the max and whatever you think is best for you.You executed good judgement and did it to the best of your ability.A special “thank you” for the day you helped me meet Jacques Kallis.You have no idea how much i admire you.Thanks Mr.Doctrove….and may God see you through whatever you are encountering.Hoping to see you soon.
You are in idiot to thumb down this comment,whomever you are.
wish you the best sir you make is proud thanks