Stanford Twenty20 future in doubt

[Sir X]

Stanford Twenty20 future in doubt


Stanford and the ECB signed a five-year contract in June 2008


The future of Sir Allen Stanford's Super Series has been thrown into doubt after the American dismissed the legends employed to promote the event.
Twelve West Indies greats, including Viv Richards, will no longer be used.
"He has disbanded the legends group, but at this stage no decision has been taken on the future of the Super Series," spokesperson Julie Hodge said.
"He is still evaluating his options and no decision has been made whether to have a different format or continue."
The England and Wales Cricket Board is one year into a five-year deal with Stanford worth $17.5m and says it is investigating reports that its lucrative contract with the Texan billionaire may be in jeopardy. "As far as I'm aware there isn't a definite timeline, but he could possibly come to a decision within January," said Hodge, who also revealed that the global financial climate was a factor behind Stanford's reflection.



In June 2008, Stanford agreed to fund and stage five annual $20m winner-takes-all Twenty20 games between a West Indies Superstars XI and England at his stadium in Antigua.
The first, which the Superstars won by 10 wickets in October, was criticised heavily in England and the ECB has been conducting a comprehensive review of the series.
Former England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Lord MacLaurin labelled the $20m match a "pantomime" and "obscene".
Stanford came under fire during the series for being pictured sitting among the players' partners, with Matt Prior's pregnant wife Emily on his lap.
"I don't think he was insulted (by the negativity), but it is disheartening, especially when you are putting so much money into the sport," spokesperson Hodge added.
HOW STANFORD'S $20m IS SPLIT
The 11 winning players will receive $1m each
The four remaining members of the winning squad will share $1m
The winning back-room staff members will share $1m
The ECB and WICB will each receive $3.5m

Kevin Pietersen's England side harboured concerns about the state of the floodlights and the pitch, and spoke of their discomfort about playing for money as the main motivation, rather than representing their country.
Stanford was also the prospective backer for an annual four-team international Twenty20 tournament at Lord's each summer from 2009.
The 58-year-old has pledged $130m to West Indian cricket over five years and set up a domestic Twenty20 tournament in 2006.
He employed Richards, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Everton Weekes, Lance Gibbs, Wes Hall, Andy Roberts, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Richie Richardson, Joel Garner, Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose as ambassadors for his series.
Ex-West Indies bowler Colin Croft told BBC Sport the group, including Richards, had "definitely" been axed.
But despite his decision to dispense with their services, Croft said he would be surprised if Stanford pulled out of cricket altogether. "The man has lived in Antigua and Barbados for about 20 years; he is as much a West Indian as many people," Croft told BBC Radio 5 Live.

The Stanford reports caught England unaware as they prepare to face India


"It would be strange if he invested all of that money and then at the drop of a hat decided he is going to remove himself.
"I would be surprised, I would be disappointed. West Indies cricket needs Sir Allen Stanford.
"He has contributed to each of the individual territories, giving as much as $200,000 each year for the last two or three years, so everybody is going to lose if he is removed from the equation." Some ECB officials are in India for the current Test series, as they attempt to establish Stanford's intentions. "One of the problems we have is that we are five and a half hours ahead of London, who in turn are five hours ahead of America so we are going to have to juggle time zones," said an ECB spokesman.

[Sir X]

Where are our Billionares to step up , LEE Chin , Butch etc , if they dont see this is a prime example to put thier products on the international scene with an international sport and Brand i.e W.I cricket then we are in bad shape, 10 mill a piece .Butch & Lee or AIC & Sandals .

Stanford to rethink involvement in cricket
AP
Thursday, December 18, 2008


LONDON, England (AP) - American billionaire Allen Stanford is considering the future of his Twenty20 Super Series cricket competition after apparently losing $20 million in sponsorship deals from October's event in Antigua.
Reacting to a newspaper report that Stanford may scrap the event and pull his sponsorship out of cricket, a spokeswoman said he was "reviewing all of his options" and considering how to change the competition.
In this file photo of June 11, 2008, Sir Allen Stanford (centre) and the England and Wales Cricket Board surrounded by officials and former cricket stars in front of a box containing US$20 million at the Lords Cricket Ground. (Photo: AP)
The Texan funded a winner-take-all $20 million Twenty20 match between England and a West Indies all-star team in Antigua in October, the first of five annual games worth a total of $100 million. The all-stars won.
Britain's Daily Mail newspaper reported Wednesday that Stanford told his staff in Antigua on Tuesday that he has dismantled his "Board of Legends" - which included West Indies cricket greats Viv Richards, Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose - and ended his involvement in the game.
"He has disbanded the legends group, but at this stage no decision has been taken on the future of the Super Series," said Stanford 20/20 spokeswoman Julie Hodge.
"He is still evaluating his options and no decision has been made yet over whether to possibly have a different format or continue as is. As far as I'm aware there isn't a definite timeline, but he could possibly come to a decision within January."
Hodge said Stanford was disheartened by the negative publicity of the Super Series and would take into consideration the poor financial return for his investment.
"Of course he will factor in the return, but there was a lot of negativity surrounding the event," she said. "He is very passionate about the sport, and he has put more than $100 million into cricket.
"I don't think he was insulted. But it is disheartening, especially when you are putting so much money into the sport. He is reviewing all of his options."
The England and Wales Cricket Board, whose officials are in Mohali for the test series against India, had no immediate confirmation.
"We're unaware of the alleged developments," the ECB said. "One of the problems we have is that we are 5 1/2 hours ahead of London, who in turn are five hours ahead of America, so we are going to have to juggle time zones."
If Stanford does pull out, it is almost certain to have a big impact on cricket in the Caribbean and England.
He was planning to provide financial backing to more Twenty20 competitions, including an annual tournament at Lord's starting in 2010 and the English Premier League starting the same year.
Stanford's Super Series competition in October also attracted headlines for the wrong reasons.
England's players complained about the stadium lighting, the slow playing surface and even the behaviour of Stanford. During a game, he was caught on camera socialising with some of the players' wives and girlfriends, including one who was sitting on his lap. He later apologised.