ICC cautious about Stanford idea

The ICC has noted its concern over the $US20 million Stanford Twenty20 series proposed to take place in the West Indies in 2008.

Texas Billionaire Allen Stanford has proposed a knockout Twenty20 competition between Australia, India, South Africa and Sri Lanka with the winner playing the Stanford Super Stars for a chance to win $US20 million in prizemoney.

However the ICC has raised their concerns with the tournament at their recent meeting in London.

“Our members have raised genuine concerns about the concept and have asked the ICC to act as an intermediary and help manage discussions between Mr Stanford and the potential host of the matches, the West Indies Cricket Board,” ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said.

“The members recognise the potential benefits of the tournament for the development of cricket in the West Indies. At the same time they wish to ensure that their participation in any event such as this will benefit as many of the game’s stakeholders as possible to help facilitate its continuing strong growth.

“The key is to achieve a result that is in the best interests of the game as a whole and, to that end, discussions will continue ahead of the ICC board’s next meeting, set to take place in Dubai in late October.”

Cricket Australia has said they will consider the proposal but has stated that the ICC Future Tours Program “must come first”. The West Indies board also met last week to discuss the proposal.