ECB To Review Stanford Series Criticism

The future of the $20m Stanford Series is under threat after the England and Wales Cricket Board ordered an immediate review of the heavily criticised tournament.

The Twenty20 tournament, which will see the winners of England’s game against the Stanford Superstars take home $1m each, has attracted criticism for its poor floodlights and slow wicket as well as the professionalism of American backer Sir Allen Stanford.

The ECB signed a lucrative deal with Stanford last June for five matches but the inaugural winner-takes-all series has been marred by controversy since it began last weekend.

Stanford was forced to apologise for his behaviour during England’s opening victory over Middlesex on Sunday after he was pictured with Matt Prior’s wife seated on his lap and his arms around other wives and girlfriends.

Captain Kevin Pietersen then expressed concern about the standard of the pitch and the floodlights at the Antigua ground built by Stanford.

As part of the Stanford agreement, the ECB and West Indies Cricket Board receive a $3.5m payout each year. If, therefore, the deal was cancelled, it would cost both boards a minimum of $14m – but the ECB insists that a review is standard procedure after every series and may not harm the tournament’s future.

Stanford has also been invited to field a team in the ECB’s planned domestic Twenty20 league next summer although this could be subject to review.