Stanford will bankroll the matches for the next five years. Each player in each winning XI will receive $1m, a further $1 million will be shared by the remaining squad players, $1 million will be shared by the coaching staff, and the remaining $7 million will be split between the two national boards.
The matches will take place at Stanford’s own ground in Antigua, using Stanford-branded bats and silver stumps.
At yesterday’s launch, Stanford explained his motive was investment in the Caribbean game: “I don't think I'm giving it [the money] away. I'm investing it in cricket’s future in the West Indies. We’re in a bit of a trough and I want to do everything I can to bring it back up. I’m doing the best I can.” He is also pumping $33.5 million into the West Indies Cricket Board over the next five years.
“With the right financial support, the right vision, it can be the dominant team sport in the world.
“Twenty20 is what is going to grab the TV revenue, it’s the future of the sport, make no mistake about that.”
The Antigua-based financier also told the press that he was in “advanced talks” with the ECB about the arrangement of a quadrangular series in 2010, featuring England, the West Indies, and two other national sides, likely to be New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
