Digicel victory won’t stop US$20m match

A spokesperson for Digicel, the international mobile telecommunications provider speaking on condition of anonymity yesterday said that despite the ruling by the London High Court, all efforts will be made to reach a settlement to allow the Stanford Super Series to take place from October 25.

Digicel, the official sponsors of West Indies cricket had asked the court to rule on their claim for sponsorship rights for the 20/20 for 20 match by virtue of their contract with the WICB.

The regional body headed by St Lucian diplomat Julian Hunte had given their sanction to Antigua-based billionarie American investment banker Sir Allen Stanford to stage five annual contests between the Stanford Superstars and England with the richest prize in team sports on offer.

But Stanford had maintained that the Superstars were not a West Indies team and that Digicel did not possess any entitlements or sponsorship rights in relation to the Stanford Super Series.

However the London High Court yesterday agreed with Digicel and ordered the WICB to pay costs to the Irish-based company which has a highly visible presence in the Caribbean.

The ruling also added that no West Indies players on central contracts could play in the Super Series which means that West Indies captain Chris Gayle, ICC Player of the Year Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, fast bowlers Jerome Taylor and Daren Powell will be ruled out.

Yesterday the Digicel spokesman maintained that it was never the intention to prevent the Stanford Super Series from taking place and is optimistic that discussions taking place in London would come to an amicable conclusion.

Leading the effort to press home a settlement in the light of the London High Court ruling is Keiran Foley, Digicel’s Sponsorship Manager who has been in the British capital since last week ahead of the start of proceedings on Friday.

“Stanford 20/20 and Digicel are in negotiations in London to effect a resolution to this impasse and we hope to have a settlement within the next few days,” the Digicel spokesperson said yesterday.

The telecommunications official said the company was fully aware of the negative repercussions that could result if the Stanford Super Series is placed in any kind of jeopardy.

Also involved in the week-long competition are regional champions Trinidad and Tobago and their English counterparts Middlesex who clash on October 27 for a US$400,000 purse.

Three Trinidad and Tobago players are also in the 17-member Stanford Superstars team— Dave “Tadpole” Mohammed, Kieron Pollard and Rayad Emrit.

Each TT player, if selected on the starting XI and should the Stanford Superstars win will collect US$1 million for his night’s work. The squad is currently in training in Antigua under coach Eldine Baptiste and assisted by Roger Harper. Apart from the US$1m going to each member of the winning XI, US$1 million will be shared between the 12th man and other non-starters with a further US$1 million divided among the management team. The remaining prize money will be shared with the England and Wales Cricket Board and the West Indies Cricket Board.