Doctrove said his most memorable match was the finals of the ICC World Twenty20 in 2010
The International Cricket Council (ICC) have confirmed that Emirates Elite Panel umpire Billy Doctrove has announced his retirement from umpiring, since he did not wish to seek an extension on his contract, which expires at the end of this month.
Doctrove, was supposed to be officiating the Sri Lanka Pakistan series currently going on as his last assignment, but pulled out at the last moment to handle a family issue back in his home town of Dominica.
The second Test match between South Africa and New Zealand in May in Hamilton was the last time Doctrove umpired a match.
Doctrove, umpired 38 Tests, 112 ODIs and 17 Twenty20 Internationals throughout his career, which has spanned an impressive 14 years.
The Dominican umpire stood in his first ODI on 4 April 1998, where the West Indies took on England in Kingstown, and he umpired his first Test match two years later, when the West Indies played against Pakistan in Antigua.
In 2004, Doctrove was promoted to the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires, before being elevated once again, only this time to the elite panel in April 2006.
Reflecting on his decision to retire, the 56-year-old Doctrove 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.”
Doctrove, also noted that he felt honoured to be part of the so called ‘cricket revolution’ where the use of technology was implemented, and the almost overnight rise in popularity for Twenty20 cricket.
“I am also honoured 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,” he said.
Asked about what his most memorable match to umpire was, Doctrove said: “It was a highlight to umpire in the ICC World Twenty20 final in Barbados. That was a special and an unforgettable occasion.”
Doctrove, also took the opportunity to thank his family, the West Indies Cricket Board and the ICC for helping him realise and live out his dream.
“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.
In a tribute to Doctrove, ICC Umpires and Referees Manager Vince Van Der Bijl said: “Billy has been an excellent servant of the game and we thank him on behalf of the entire cricket fraternity for his outstanding contribution as an international umpire for 14 years. To have remained as one of the game’s top officials for that length of time has required Billy to be self-motivated, confident and well respected. Billy is a very special man, with strong values, firm beliefs yet with an underlying gentleness and humour, and a great family man – a wonderful blend.”