West Indies receive $28 million cash boost

Allen Stanford: Anitguan-based benefactor © Cricinfo

West Indies cricket has received a massive cash boost from a Texan businessman who is to invest US$28 million (£16 million). Allen Stanford, a billionaire who has been based in Antigua for 20 years, announced on Monday that he intends to rejuvenate cricket in the Caribbean. He aims to begin by setting up a Twenty20 tournament which will be held annually and feature 17 countries.

"My vision for the Stanford Twenty20 tournament is that it will be the catalyst for a resurgence of love for the game," Stanford told the BBC Sport website. "I have witnessed first-hand the power the game of cricket wields over the people in this region.

"West Indies cricket is an almost tangible force which can unify an entire country, an entire group of people, no matter the differences that might exist off the field. The energy, the pride, the passion that cricket has inspired in the people of the Caribbean is not only moving but infectious."

The competition will take place in August and September next year, with $1million at stake for the winners, and $500,000 for the runners-up. The countries taking part include Barbados, Bermuda, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Antigua and Barbuda.

Among Stanford's other plans are a professional Super League, and two matches in November between a Caribbean Super Stars XI and "world-class" opponents, where both matches will have a prize of $5million. These plans were announced at a meeting attended by West Indian greats including Sir Garry Sobers, Sir Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, who all said they were excited by the investment.