ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Distinguished former West Indies Cricket Board chief executive officer, Stephen Camacho, has died.
The 69-year-old, who was also a selector, West Indies team manager and Test batsman, passed away in Antigua early Saturday following a battle with cancer. He would have celebrated his 70th birthday in nine days.
Camacho distinguished himself as an outstanding administrator, spending 18 years as CEO of the WICB, and was the first full-time employee of the board.
He was born in British Guiana and played his early cricket at the Georgetown Cricket Club. As a right-handed opener, he went on to play 76 first class games, scoring 4 079 runs including seven centuries and 24 half-centuries at an average of 34.
Camacho played 11 Tests for West Indies, making his debut on England’s 1968 tour of the Caribbean alongside the likes of the legendary Sir Garry Sobers, Clive Lloyd and Sir Wes Hall.
He gathered 640 runs with four half-centuries.
Government expresses condolences
The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (CRG) is saddened by the passing of Stephen Camacho, former Guyana and West Indies opening batsman, West Indies Team Manager and selector and the then West Indies Cricket Board of Control (WICBC) Chief Executive Officer, Board Secretary and administrator. The Government extends deepest condolences to his wife, Allison and family and his many relatives and friends in Guyana, across the Caribbean and the world.
Camacho distinguished himself as one of the finest and most widely respected cricket administrators in the region, having been the first full time employee of the WICBC (subsequently changed to WICB). Nine days shy of his 70th birthday at the time of his passing, Camacho served as CEO for 18 years and also as Board Secretary. With a quiet demeanor and exuding elegance Camacho was widely admired, respected and loved in the cricket fraternity and further afield.
The Government of Guyana hopes that Camacho’s legacy of grace, humility and unyielding respect for the regional sport will serve as guideposts to those who have been entrusted with the management of the game.
During his playing career Camacho played 11 Test matches for the West Indies and represented the then British Guiana and subsequently Guyana after independence. Camacho scored seven first class centuries and 24 half centuries, debuting for the West Indies against England in 1968. His highest Test score was 87, scored against England in Trinidad during his debut series.
After his retirement from playing, Camacho initially lived in Barbados while he served as a WICBC administrator and subsequently in Antigua where he had settled and where he passed this morning after a brief period of declining health.