BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC:
CABLE & Wireless, sponsors of international cricket in the Caribbean for close to two decades, announced yesterday it has ended its sponsorship of West Indies' home series and will now focus its support on the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007.
The news is not totally surprising following unconfirmed reports during this year's home series that C&W was looking at exploring other opportunities in cricket.
"C&W is proud to have been associated with cricket in the Caribbean over the last 18 years," remarked Usman Saadat, vice president of marketing and cricket co-ordinator for C&W in the Caribbean.
"C&W remains totally committed to the ongoing development of the sport across the Caribbean and we have signalled our intentions in the cricket arena for the next three years."
He added: "We wish to thank cricket fans, our staff and the WICB for the fun and exciting times that we have had for the sponsorship of the home series, which is the longest running cricket sponsorship in the world.
"C&W is proud that it has been able to leave behind a path, well paved with world class, well executed plans."
C&W will be a regional telecoms sponsor of the CWC 2007, the biggest sporting event to be hosted in the region.
The company will be leveraging its leading global and Caribbean services and technologies to ensure that the CWC 2007 is a showpiece for the people of the Caribbean.
Saadat noted the company has also signed long-term sponsorship agreements with a number of key West Indies players, including West Indies captain Brian Lara.
Media reports indicate that Digicel, C&W's biggest competitor in the Caribbean cellular market, is the head candidate to become the new sponsors of West Indies' home series over the next three years.
Meanwhile, Sandals will be the team sponsor of the West Indies during the tour of Britain.
