23 September 2008

A legal dispute threatens the postponement of the Stanford Super Series as Digicel claim they are entitled to sponsorship rights of the Stanford team.

The Superstars take on England on November 1st, with the winners walking away with a prize fund of some $20 million.

The telecommunications company has a sponsorship deal with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and it contends that the Superstars is a West Indian side in all but name, which has been denied by the Stanford team.

Both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have recognised that the Superstars are not the West Indian national team.

It was revealed this week that Digicel were offered substantial sponsorship rights by Stanford 20/20 but their demand for their logo to appear on the Superstars' jersey for five years.

Digicel claims it already owns the right for the logo to be carried.

Stanford remain defiant, however, claiming in a statement that the series will go ahead:

"Whilst Stanford 20/20 is frustrated by Digicel’s behaviour, it is nothing more than an unwelcome distraction and Stanford 20/20 will not be derailed from moving ahead with preparations for a successful Stanford Super Series," it read.

A High Court hearing in London next month has been scheduled to bring an end to the dispute.

© Cricket World 2008

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