DURBAN (Reuters):
A TEXAN-born billionaire is financing a world record US$5 million Twenty20 international between West Indies and South Africa in Antigua this November, Cricket South Africa (CSA) said yesterday.
"Everything has been agreed and we expect to sign the contracts next week," CSA commercial manager Steve Elworthy said, adding that the winners would pocket the US$5 million and both teams would receive US$100,000 in appearance fees.
LUCRATIVE MATCH
Scheduled to take place on November 12, the lucrative one-off match is the brainchild of Allan Stanford, a Texan who is now an Antiguan citizen, making the contest the richest prize in any form of cricket.
Australia picked up US$2 million for capturing the World Cup in 2003 as well as smaller purses accumulated for winning earlier matches.
Stanford has spent US$28-million sponsoring the domestic West Indian Twenty20 competition and has also financed the building of a new hospital in Antigua.
"If everyone's keen to do it, then why not?" South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher said.
"Obviously he (Stanford) is determined to get West Indian cricket back up and running and I take my hat off to him because that's a lot of money to fork out for one 20-over game.
"Maybe it's a sign of things to come for cricket."
Boucher admitted that the amount of money at stake would add to the pressure the players felt on the field.
"If you never play for that amount of money then you're not used to it," Boucher said. "So the guys were joking that you don't want to be bowling the last ball of the match and the opposition needs six to win."
"If you get knocked for that six you just might be unpopular in the changing room."
