Cayman cricket could soon be better off to the tune of $250,000 after being invited to take part in a new international competition launched by a Texas billionaire.
‘I am ecstatic,’ national cricket coach Theo Cuffy told the Caymanian Compass.
‘This is the richest package for the development of cricket over a one year period I have ever known,’ he said.
Cayman is just one of the 17 countries in the region invited to play in the Stanford 20/20 Competition in Antigua next summer with what is said to be a $1 million prize for the winners.
Also due to take part in the limited over, knockout competition are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Maarten, British Virgin Islands, St Vincent and Trinidad and Tobago.
Each country is set to receive $100,000 when they confirm their involvement with further payments being made to help players and coaches prepare.
The contest forms part of billionaire Allen Stanford’s plans to invest $28 million in West Indies cricket.
Stanford, who has been based in Antigua for more than 20 years, will bear the costs of the competition.
‘This happening for cricket is a godsend. We lost virtually everything during the storm,’ said coach Cuffy.
Cayman was invited to take part several weeks ago but that was before the magnitude of the whole package was known, he said.
Cuffy said he was ecstatic when he heard about the amount of money involved.
‘I had my first good night’s sleep in a long while and I am really pleased for the Cayman Islands,’ he said. It would mean money coming into the country and the cricket association and would help the economy, said Cuffy.
It would also provide an opportunity to build up the infrastructure for all cricketers to play in a more comfortable environment, he added.
‘We are delighted to know that we have been invited to take part in such a prestigious competition,’ said Cayman’s cricket association president Courtney Myles.
‘It can only benefit the development of cricket in the Cayman Islands.’
‘We have to commend Mr. Stanford for his vision to lift cricket within the Caribbean, which is somewhat at a low right now,’ said Myles.
‘It’s a good booster for our players to work harder,’ he added.
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