ST JOHN’S, Antigua – President of the West Indies Cricket Board Dr Julian Hunte has hailed Billy Doctrove as an outstanding servant of West Indies cricket and one of the leading regional umpires. The Dominican Doctrove announced his retirement from the ICC Emirate Elite Panel recently.
“It is with a mixture of regret and pride that I offer best wishes and sincere gratitude and thanks to Billy Doctrove on his retirement from international cricket umpiring,” Dr Hunte said.
“Billy has been an outstanding and faithful servant of West Indies and world cricket for fourteen years and we will be the poorer for his decision to now serve from off the field,” Dr Hunte added.
“We wish him the very best during his retirement and look forward to his contributions in other areas,” Dr Hunte remarked.
“The WICB will examine how best to suitably honour Billy for his service to the game and how he can contribute to the development of young umpires who can emulate him and Steve Bucknor who was the trailblazer,” Dr Hunte said.
The 56-year-old Doctrove, also a FIFA-accredited referee, stood in 38 Tests, 112 One Day Internationals and 17 Twenty20 Internationals. He officiated in the final of the ICC World Twenty20 2010 in Barbados.
Doctrove debuted on the international stage in April 1998 at Arnos Vale, St Vincent when he stood in a West Indies v England ODI. He followed up with his Test debut two years later at the Antigua Recreation Ground when the home side faced Pakistan.
Doctrove was elevated to the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires in 2004 then to the Elite Panel in 2006, and the players pavilion at the newest international venue in the Caribbean – Windsor Park in Doctrove’s native Dominica – is named after the country’s celebrated son.