Doctrove now speaks for Digicel

Billy “Toshack” Doctrove rose to prominence in 2000 when he became the first Dominican ever to officiate in an international cricket Test match between the West Indies and Pakistan at the Recreation Grounds in Antigua.

Digicel began operations in Dominica on May 26 with a spectacular free concert featuring Morgan Heritage, Rupee, WCK and Michele Henderson and offering an exciting range of products and unbeatable call charges.

“It’s great to be associated with Digicel,” Doctrove said, “in particular because of the great things they are doing for West Indies Cricket and its overall development.

“Digicel is proud to welcome Billy on board. His experience, love and all-round knowledge of sport will be a definite plus for us,” said Patricia Maher, General Manager Dominica.

Doctrove, who began his official sporting career as a football referee also congratulated Digicel for their involvement in the region’s premier football tournament. “Digicel is also there for my first love, Football,” he said, “and I’m truly fortunate to be given yet another opportunity to help make a difference in the development of our sport and our young people.”

Doctrove first umpired in 1970 as a schoolboy stand-in for an official who failed to turn up for a local match. Today, he has stood in seven Test matches and 47 One Day Internationals. Earlier this year, he was promoted to the International Cricket Council (ICC) elite panel of umpires. His patience, honesty, and consistently fair judgment and coolness under pressure were cited as the reasons the ICC invited him to sit on the panel.

Doctrove became Dominica’s first FIFA referee in 1995 and officiated in numerous international matches throughout the Caribbean. He retired from FIFA refereeing in 1997 to concentrate on umpiring but still referees football in Dominica, and is president of the Dominica Football Referees Association.

Doctrove also heads the Windward Islands Cricket Umpires Association and is Area vice-president of the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association.