Date Posted: June 26, 2008.
THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2008 – Coolidge, Antigua – The Board of
Stanford 20/20, in consultation with the West Indies Cricket
Board (WICB), has decided, in the best interest of a
comprehensive and unified development plan for West Indies
cricket, to cease the Stanford 20/20 Pro Team Programme.
This cessation, effective June 30, 2008, will allow for the
primary focus of development of West Indies cricket to
center on the WICB's Strategic Plan. This Strategic Plan
includes a cricket academy that will link all the
territories together with a unified approach and under a
standardized curriculum. It is in the absolute best interest
of West Indies cricket that all parties come together to
support one thrust to return the region to the Strategic
Plan's stated goal of being at the pinnacle of world cricket
by 2012.
Sir Allen reaffirmed his commitment to the WICB by executing
agreements that will be worth in excess of US$33.5 million
to West Indies cricket part of which can be used to fund the
Strategic Plan. Further Sir Allen is committed to honoring
the players' one year contracts and will continue to pay all
players through the terms of those contracts.
The Board of Stanford 20/20, despite having launched the
ambitious Professional Team Programme and being pleased with
the work ethic and commitment of the players and staff
decided that suspending the programme at this time would
also allow for a more cohesive working relationship with the
WICB and the regional associations to develop facilities and
training programmes at the grass roots level and lead to a
more successful and comprehensive cricket development plan
for the region.
The bulk of the new funds will go towards ensuring that the
number of young people playing cricket is increased the
standard improved to the point where the West Indies
achieves and maintains its goal of being at the pinnacle of
world cricket by 2012.
The Board of Stanford 20/20 continues to wholeheartedly
support the development of West Indies Cricket and the
Stanford 20/20 Tournament initiatives present excellent
opportunities for players throughout the region to showcase
their talents on the world stage.
Despite this announcement Sir Allen and the Board of
Stanford 20/20 would like to restate their commitment to the
hosting of the highly successful and extremely popular
annual Stanford 20/20 Tournament in Antigua. The 2009
edition of the tournament is already being coordinated and
details regarding this tournament will be announced in due
course.
About the Stanford 20/20 Tournament
The Stanford 20/20 Tournament is a single-elimination
knockout cricket competition featuring teams from several
Caribbean territories vying for the top spot. Nineteen (19)
teams competed in the inaugural 2006 Tournament and twenty
(20) teams in the 2008 Tournament. Created by financier Sir
Allen Stanford, the first Tournament took place in
July/August 2006 with Guyana emerging as the Stanford 20/20
Champions and Trinidad & Tobago triumphing in the 2008
Tournament that ran from January 26 to February 24, 2008.
The 20 countries participating in the competition are
Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda,
Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica,
Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, the British Virgin
Islands, St. Maarten, St. Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks
& Caicos Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Visit the Stanford2020.com website for more information
about the Stanford 20/20 programme. |
