ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC) - An American investor has called on regional administrators to set up a cricket super league on par with those in the United States.

R Allen Stanford, the millionaire Texan investor, the brain behind the Sticky Wicket West Indies Cricket Hall of Fame, made the suggestion Thursday at the Antigua launch of the Hall of Fame balloting process at his Sticky Wicket Restaurant adjoining the Stanford Cricket Ground at the V C Bird International Airport.

He said a lack of finance and professionalism was retarding the growth and development of the sport in the Caribbean.
"It is my belief that we should follow the example of professional basketball and football in the US and should immediately develop a professional, well-paid league within the West Indies, which at the end of the season would culminate with the equivalent of the West Indies cricket Super Bowl," Stanford said.

He was speaking at the launch of the balloting process to select two former great West Indian players to join the original list of 12 inducted in 2003.

Describing cricket as "symbolic to the past and to the future of the West Indies", Stanford said the sport "has given the region a pride and unity that no political undertaking has, or ever will, equal".

"West Indies cricket is the single most powerful statement to the world, that although the Caribbean's population base is small and we lack an abundance of natural and economic resources, the Caribbean as a people have a spirit, a heart, a soul, unmatched in the world," Stanford said.

"I believe West Indies cricket is at this crossroad. I see a great opportunity to go forward, however, a new approach must be taken for the sport to grow and prosper in the years ahead, or I am fearful that we will simply slide backwards and die a slow death."
He added: "There must be opportunities made available to young, talented, up and coming players that will keep them motivated and interested in developing their careers in the sport of cricket that will allow them to better themselves, not only in the sport but financially as well."
"There are too many opportunities out there close to home such as college sports scholarships, and multi-million dollar contracts for professional players that make other sports much more alluring.

"The players must have the financial resources to devote the time and energy required to compete and fully develop into champions. For too long West Indian cricketers have been undervalued and underpaid.

"The West Indies Cricket Board, the players, and those of us in the private sector must come together and have the courage, the vision and the willingness to commit the financial resources necessary to bring about such a change."

Public balloting to select the next two inductees continued yesterday, into today and tomorrow at the Antigua Recreation Grounds, during the fourth and final Test match between the West Indies and South Africa.

Stanford's employees will be present at the ARG to solicit ballots from spectators attending the match over the weekend. Persons are encouraged to participate in this important exercise, joining the nearly 6,000 individuals in Guyana, Trinidad and Barbados, who to date have already cast their votes for the next two honourees.

The public may also vote on-line at www.thestickywicket.com, and via Cable & Wireless text messaging (text to 146). Balloting is also available on selected Caribbean Star flights and at check-in counters across the region.

Balloting will move to Jamaica next week during the two One Day West Indies matches against South Africa. Deadline for voting is May 15, and results will be announced on June 1, 2005.

The induction ceremony takes place at the Sticky Wicket on August 25.

This year's nominees are: ANTIGUA: Eldine Baptiste, Ridley Jacobs, Richie Richardson; BARBADOS: Gordon Greenidge, Charlie Griffith, Desmond Haynes, David Holford, Sir Clyde Walcott, Sir Frank Worrell, Wes Hall; GUYANA: Robert Christiani, Roy Fredricks, Carl Hooper, Alvin Kallicharan, Rohan Kanhai; JAMAICA: Jeffrey Dujon, Jackie Hendriks, Lawrence Rowe, Oneil Gordon "Collie" Smith, Alfred Valentine; TRINIDAD: Sir Learie Constantine, Gerry Gomez, Sonny Ramadhin, Jeffrey Stollmeyer.

Executive Class

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Death to the Mullet!