Coolidge, Antigua:

Sir Allen Stanford, originator and chairman of Stanford 20/20 has endorsed the candidacy of legendary former West Indies captain, Ambassador Courtney Walsh, for the presidency of the Jamaica Cricket Association.

"I believe that it would be of tremendous benefit to Jamaican and West Indian cricket for a man of Courtney's indisputable character and calibre to be at the helm of an important regional cricket body at this time when regional cricket is in desperate need of strong and able leadership," said Stanford in a release yesterday.

He added: "As a director of Stanford 20/20 and a Stanford Superstars selector, we have benefited from his immense knowledge and leadership capacity and I hope that the cricketing fraternity in Jamaican embraces a man who possesses the rare combination of cricketing accomplishment and proven leadership."