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Friday, Jul 06, 2007
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Boost for West Indies

CRICKET / Texas billionaire Stanford steps in

Thrust on development at grassroots level
Over $35 million spent on the first edition last year

Melbourne: The cash-strapped West Indies Cricket Board has received a boost with Texas billionaire Allen Stanford announcing a fresh $100 million investment to revive the game’s fortunes in the Caribbean.

“This won’t be just cricket, this will be a life-changing experience,” Stanford said.

Looking forward

“We can’t wait two decades to regain the golden era of West Indies cricket. We are stuck in the 1950s and 60s. We can’t allow ourselves to stay stuck forever. We have to come into the 21st century,” he was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.

The money would be spent on developing cricket at the grassroots level and grooming youngsters for the second edition of Stanford Twenty20 tournament early next year in which 21 teams will compete.

Stanford had reportedly spent over $35 million on the first edition last year.

“I’m investing a lot of money in this thing and at some point I expect to make a profit — something that needs to happen for the longevity of the programme and will provide essential funding for West Indies cricket,” Stanford said.

“I have committed my resources and I believe that within those five years we’ll have a world-beating West Indies team again,” he added.

Stanford said the domestic Twenty20 tourney would become the building ground for talented youngsters.

“The Stanford Twenty20 programme we’re creating is going to be the instrument that brings about that success,” he said.

The Stanford Twenty20 project has former greats like Sir Garfield Sobers, Viv Richards, Curtly Ambrose and Michael Holding as its Board of Directors. — PTI

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