Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Texas billionaire Allen Stanford (third left) poses with members of his legends Courtney Walsh (second left), Ian Bishop (fourth left), Lance Gibbs (third right), president of the Jamaica Cricket Association Jackie Hendriks (fourth right), JCA's Cricket Operation Officer Brian Breese (second right), Ludlow Watt (left), general manager Sports Development Foundation (SDF) and Jamaica's coaching director for cricket, Jeffery Dujon, as he hands over a cheque of US$1000,000.00 (JA$6,498,000.00). The presentation took place at the Norman Manley International Airport. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE JAMAICA Cricket Association (JCA) became the third country to receive the initial drawdown of US$100,000 (J$6,498,000.00) from Antigua financier and Stanford 20/20 developer Allen Stanford yesterday.
In a brief presentation ceremony at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday Stanford, on his third stop in the Caribbean after trips to Bermuda and The Bahamas, handed over the US$100,000 cheque to JCA president Jackie Hendriks.
Stanford, who arrived in the island on his private jet about 3:00 p.m. and departed within an hour for Cayman Islands, said the development of the cricket should begin here.
He said this money, the first part of a US$280,000 (J$18,152,400.00) donation, must be spent on grassroots cricket.
He said once they singed off on the money and audit "it's yours, go spend it, get it going", which he said is the tournament's theme.
He said: "The countries will also come and tell us how they spent their money to support grassroots cricket."
NOT WITHOUT BLESSINGS
Jackie Hendriks, the JCA president, who had earlier said Jamaica would not take part without the blessings of the WICB, thanked the Texas billionaire for his contribution.
"We thank you very much from the bottom of hearts Mr. Stanford for your initiative ... thank you so much," he said.
"We are very, very pleased at last, this has come to a happy conclusion," he said of the agreement with Stanford and the WICB.
Hendriks added: "This is going to be quite a great injection into our cricket."
The money was transferred into the JCA's account from early yesterday, even before the presentation was made.
Meanwhile, Stanford said at the matches set to start in August, they will be having sports celebrities, movie stars and music as it's going to be a fun thing.
Nineteen countries are invited to take part in the single elimination knock-out competition, where the winning team will receive US$1 million and the runners-up US$500,000.
Lance Gibbs also endorsed the move to invite 19 countries, instead of the regular six territorial teams.
This he said will allow players from smaller islands who normally don't make the Leewards and Windwards teams to play for their islands.
EXPOSED
"It's 140 plus players that will be exposed to cricket at this level, comparing to the 66 that possibly would have played for the six territorial teams," Gibbs said.
"It's an incentive for the youngster players," he added.
After the tournament, a Stanford Super Star team will be selected to play two Twenty/20 matches against two high profile international teams.
The winner of each match will earn US$5 million and according to Stanford, they will provide financial assistance to the players.
"We are going to see that the money is spent wisely on their (players) behalf. We are going to counsel them, we are not going to let them have a windfall once in their life, hopefully a continuous windfall.
"Part of the plan also is to develop these athletes for them to have a plan for life and can have that financial plan for life in the sport of cricket."
