There are hurdles to be overcome before the West Indies and England clash in a new five match series for the richest team prize for a single sporting match of US$20million.

Digicel which has a five year Sponsorship Agreement with a guaranteed minimum US$20 million investment, has moved to a formal dispute resolution process claiming that the involvement of Standford 20/20 Board/West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) series is in breach of contractual obligations.

Digicel in a press statement last week said that there has been intensive negotiations and communications with the WICB in an effort to resolve the situation, but despite considerable efforts, the matter had not been resolved.

According to Digicel, the WICB/Standford agreement is a separate agreement with a third party which wholly compromises the exclusive rights granted to Digicel as principal sponsor of West Indies cricket.

 “As such, Digicel has been left with no option but to refer the matter to a formal dispute resolution process as provided for in the Sponsorship Agreement with the WICB.   Digicel has taken this step in order to protect the valuable rights which are enshrined in the Sponsorship Agreement entered into with the WICB,” Digicel noted in a press statement.

Sir Allen Standford had announced that staring Nove mber 1, 2008, the series of five annual ‘winner takes all matches’ will be hosted at the spectacular Stanford Cricket Ground in Antigua, where the Stanford Super Stars will defend the pride of the islands against England under the lights and electric atmosphere synonymous with Stanford 20/20.

Sir Allen on behalf of the Stanford 20/20 Board, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the WICB, made the announcement last month.

Digicel said that while it applauds the various initiatives developed in 20/20 and recognizes the great potential that this format provides to the development of the game in the Caribbean, its comprehensive ‘Sponsorship Agreement’ with the WICB affords Digicel a wide range of sole and exclusive rights as principal sponsor of West Indies cricket.

The Digicel/WICB agreement also provides opportunities for other commercial bodies to become actively and financially involved in the development of cricket in the Caribbean. “However, the involvement of such third parties must be in accordance with the terms of the Sponsorship Agreement and must respect the clear and unequivocal rights granted to Digicel by the WICB in exchange for Digicel’s guaranteed minimum US$20 million investment over the five year period of the Sponsorship Agreement,” Digicel stated.

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