Four international teams to compete for US$20 million

Stanford to try Super Stars concept again

Cricinfo staff

July 5, 2007

The success of last year's Stanford 20/20 competition has led to two new teams joining the action © Getty Images

The Super Stars competition is scheduled for June 2008 and will feature a team made up of the best players from next year's January-February tournament. Stanford plans to invite four ICC teams to Antigua to play each other in a single elimination knockout system, with the winning team to take on the Super Stars for the US$20 million jackpot. A one-off match between the Super Stars and South Africa was slated for last November, with a US$5 million prize, but did not take place.

After the success of last year's Stanford 20/20, the Super Stars will next season be able to select players from 21 teams. As with the existing sides, Turks and Caicos will receive US$100,000 in capital investment funding and US$180,000 to spend on the development of players and coaches, and the maintenance of facilities and equipment. Stanford said international policies meant the same funding could not be given to Cuba, but the Stanford 20/20 board would offer support in other ways.

Development funding will also be provided for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. They are expected to field teams in the 2009 tournament. Next year's competition will be the first to feature the Antigua and Barbuda professional team that Stanford put together, in what will be an interesting test case for Stanford's idea of a professional league in the Caribbean.

"I'm committed to [the two tournaments] and will be investing a further US$100 million over the next three years 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 the next three years we will have a world-beating West Indies team again."

© Cricinfo

	Email

Watch our daily Cricinfo SportsCenter news round-ups Available on Cricinfo.tv     NEW FANTASY: India v Australia Test series - prizes to be won Enter now - series starts October 9     Live scores, news & ball-by-ball commentary on your phone Cricinfo Mobile

Stories

ICC raises concerns over Stanford plan

Australia to consider Stanford Twenty20 proposal

Players/Umpires

Allen Stanford

Series/Tournaments

MCC Universities Championship

Bahamas tour of West Indies

Bermuda tour of West Indies

Cayman Islands tour of West Indies

Cuba tour of West Indies

Stanford 20/20

Turks & Caicos tour of West Indies

Teams

Cuba

Turks and Caicos Islands

West Indies