Oval controversy made me a better umpire: Doctrove

CHITTAGONG, May 22: After going through the ordeal of the Oval Test controversy, umpire Billy Doctrove thinks the adversity has made him a better professional and a better human being.
Doctrove, who was at the centre of the imbroglio along with Australian Darrel Hair during the forfeited Oval Test in August last year, said it was a learning experience for him.
"It was part of my learning experience. It is now behind me. It has helped me become a better umpire and a better human being," he said.
Doctrove now says better man management can result in smooth conduct of a match.
"I don't think there are bad boys in the game. If one can use man management skills well, then things become easy," he said.
In the Oval Test, Pakistan were charged with ball tampering and forfeited the match when they were docked five runs.
Later after an inquiry, Hair was removed from the Elite panel while Doctrove emerged unscathed.
Now Doctrove, who is in the port city to stand in the first cricket Test between India and Bangladesh, does not like to dwell upon the controversy or talk about who was right and who was wrong. But, he plans to pen a book on the controversy.
Doctrove, who played club cricket in Dominica as a batsman before taking to umpiring and becoming a member of the ICC Elite panel in 2002, prefers to talk about his passion -- football.
Doctrove, who has the distinction of becoming Dominica's first FIFA referee in 1995, has supervised a football World Cup qualifier between Guyana and Grenada in 1996.
An ardent follower of Liverpool, Doctrove is looking forward to the English club's clash with Italian giants AC Milan in the Champions League final on Wednesday.
"I cannot wait to see the match. I am looking forward to seeing Liverpool take the League. I will definitely watch the match and pray that my favourite club beat AC Milan. It will surely be a great achievement for Liverpool," said the 51-year-old umpire.
Doctrove's close association with Liverpool has earned him the nickname 'Toshack', after the club's famous footballer John Toshack.
Toshack had formed a lethal striking partnership with Kevin Keegan helping Liverpool win the FA Cup in 1974 and the UEFA Cup in 1973 and 1976.
The meeting with childhood heroes Toshack and Ian Rush last year has been one of the most memorable moments in Doctrove's life.
"Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry invited me to watch the Premiership match against West Ham United last year. And there I got a chance to meet the likes of Toshack and Ian," fondly reminisces Doctrove.