DOCTROVE NOT SURPRISED

Billy Doctrove insists he has no problems with being omitted from the list of umpires who will officiate at the Champions Trophy in India. Doctrove, who stood alongside Darrell Hair in the forfeited final Test between England and Pakistan, was absent from the names announced by ICC.

However he was quick to play down the decision and said it was something that had been decided before the outcome of the ICC hearing at The Oval last week.

"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."

Doctrove was noticeably absent as the main figures in the Test controversy faced up to the media at the conclusion of the hearing. Darrell Hair answered questions for 45 minutes and admitted it was easy to believe there had been just one umpire standing in the match.

Hair was subsequently withdrawn from the Champions Trophy for, according to ICC, safety and security issues although this has since been questioned by the Indian Board.

No reason has been given for Doctrove's omission from the tournament but he says he is comfortable with want happened at The Oval and has been told it has nothing to do with not featuring in India

"I was informed it was not and I trust the ICC," he added. "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. We are of the opinion that the adjudicator acted in good faith and to the best of his ability when he came to his decision.

"It was a fair hearing as far as I'm concerned and we have to accept the findings and move on."