Texas billionaire Allen Stanford (third left) poses with members of his legends Courtney Walsh (second left), Ian Bishop (fourth left), Lance Gibbs (third right), president of the Jamaica Cricket Association Jackie Hendriks (fourth right), JCA's Cricket Operation Officer Brian Breese (second right), Ludlow Watt (left), general manager Sports Development Foundation (SDF) and Jamaica's coaching director for cricket, Jeffery Dujon, as he hands over a cheque of US$1000,000.00 (JA$6,498,000.00). The presentation took place at the Norman Manley International Airport recently. - RUDOLPH BROWN
st. john's, antigua (cmc)
THE FIRST-EVER US$1 million Stanford Twenty/20 cricket tournament, involving 19 regional teams, will be played from July 11 to August 13 at the Stanford Cricket Ground (SCG) here, organisers said yesterday.
The dates were announced at a ceremony at the Sticky Wicket Restaurant, home of the SCG, where the Antigua and Barbuda and Montserrat cricket associations received their initial installments of US$100,000 to prepare for the tournament.
The two countries were among 15 nations presented with their cheques as part of a whirlwind swing through the region aboard a new Dash 8 plane, branded in the Twenty/20 logo and colours.
The aircraft forms part of the fleet of Caribbean Star Airlines, a Stanford company, which is a sponsor.
The Twenty/20 competition will take a break between July 29 and August 10 to accommodate Antigua and Barbuda's Carnival celebrations and will resume a day later with the semi-finals.
CHALLENGING DATES
The final of the knockout elimination tournament will be played on August 13.
"Deciding on the dates for the tournament proved challenging as the cricket calendar in this region is always very full, and so many countries and their players have commitments that they of course have to honour," said Andy Roberts, chairman of the technical advisory board.
"It was definitely a case of working with the dates that we have available.
We are confident that the time frame that we have set forth for the tournament is one that will cause minimal conflict with the other activities happening in the region," Roberts added.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), which initially gave a lukewarm reception to the initiative but has now embraced it following an agreement between Stanford and WICB president, Ken Gordon, said it is pleased to include the schedule as part of its calendar.
"I'm sure that the 19 participating countries are looking to July 11 with great anticipation and there will be no shortage of cricket to help them prepare leading up to this exciting competition," said Roger Brathwaite, the CEO of the WICB.
Stanford, who was absent from the ceremony because he will be accepting an award for Excellence in Leadership on Thursday in Washington, D.C., said in a prepared statement, read by Sir Vivian Richards, a legend, that "the goal is to bring about the rebirth of West Indies cricket."
GRASS ROOTS IMPACT
He said the investment "is meant to impact on the sport where we need it most, at its grassroots.
"This is the best way that I can see us assisting the WICB, by laying the framework for a cricket legacy that will outlive us all. We must realise that professional sports in the 21st century is all about entertainment."
Caribbean Star's CEO Skip Burnette said sister airline, Caribbean Sun, will also assist in bringing the teams to Antigua for the tournament.
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