ECB to learn Stanford decision in Jan
England will discover in January whether Sir Allen Stanford is to continue their lucrative partnership following reports he is planning to withdraw from all cricket activities.
The Texan billionaire, who has bankrolled West Indies cricket with millions of dollars in recent years, on Wednesday disbanded the Stanford Twenty20 Board and terminated the contracts of his legends, which include Sir Viv Richards, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.
It prompted fears that Stanford's relationship with the England and Wales Cricket Board was under threat just over six months after signing a five-year deal for an annual US$20million fixture between his All Stars and England in Antigua.
Stanford was also on course to bankroll an annual Twenty20 quadrangular tournament to be held at Lord's, which was due to begin this summer, while he was expected to be the major backer of the England Premier League Twenty20 tournament starting in 2010 which would include his All Stars as one of two overseas teams.
But on Wednesday Stanford released a statement confirming he would announce his cricket programme for 2009 in January and insisted he intended to continue his relationship with the ECB.
The statement said: "Sir Allen reaffirmed his desire to continue to work with the England and Wales Cricket Board and discussions are currently ongoing between Stanford 20/20 LLC and the ECB."
Despite the bullish announcement from the Stanford organisation, reports he is due to withdraw his backing for West Indies cricket must also cast doubt on the future of his All Stars concept.
Primarily the West Indies line-up in all but name, now Stanford has withdrawn his backing it is unlikely the West Indies Cricket Board would release their players for any Stanford enterprise.
The events of the last 24 hours will also put ECB chairman Giles Clarke, who is in Mohali supporting the England team in preparation for the second Test on Friday, under pressure after he staked his reputation on the multi-million dollar deal with Stanford.
Clarke's involvement in the deal has already prompted criticism from Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove, who said: "When you flirt with someone with this kind of background, it is inevitable that he could pull out at any time and, even if it doesn't happen now, it could just as easily happen in a year's time."
