Digicel has refused to consent to Stanford 20/20’s participation in the legal action Digicel has brought against the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in relation to the forthcoming Stanford Super Series.
Stanford 20/20 sought Digicel’s consent to become a party to the arbitration proceedings in London, in order to ensure its position was fully and properly communicated to the arbitrator, and to safeguard the interests of all participants in the Stanford Super Series, including Stanford 20/20 itself, the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Middlesex, Trinidad and Tobago, players, broadcasters, commercial partners and the cricket-supporting public.
Digicel claims that to permit Stanford 20/20 such access would “disrupt” the arbitration despite the fact that the WICB has consented to Stanford 20/20 becoming a party.
Although an entirely innocent party in the dispute between Digicel and WICB, in an attempt to resolve the impasse Stanford 20/20 had previously offered not to enter into a deal with a rival telecoms company, to pay Digicel’s legal costs and also to grant Digicel, at no cost, valuable benefits in relation to the 2008 events to which Digicel is not contractually entitled. Stanford 20/20 believes that its offer addressed all of Digicel’s legitimate concerns but, having spurned these generous offers, Digicel is now denying Stanford 20/20 its basic right to protect its interests.
This latest action appears to make clear that Digicel is adamant on pursuing its legal proceedings at the risk of destroying the event and causing substantial damage to cricket in the Caribbean.
Stanford 20/20 will nevertheless continue to do everything in its power to ensure a successful Stanford Super Series and preparations continue apace.
© Stanford 20/20
