A new era underway in the Caribbean

The Stanford 20/20 kicks off in Antigua on Tuesday. It is the first major private venture - if you exclude the controversial rebel tours of South Africa in the 1980s - since Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket turned the established game on its head in 1977. Even the millions poured into that pall by comparison with the $28 million invested by American billionaire Alan Stanford.

Unlike other such events, Stanford has not only made available massive prize money, he has also invested heavily in the infrastructure of the participating countries. Each of the 19 has received $250,000 to help them prepare for the event itself. Up to now, for many such sums were the stuff of dreams. And for the lucky winner, there is another million dollars.

The West Indies Cricket Board, the financially challenged official bosses of West Indies cricket has had to sit by rather like someone whose upstart neighbour has won the lottery and is flashing their cash around. While it has stopped short of having a major huff, it has hardly made secret that it is unimpressed, nor that it would quite like to get its hands on a slice of the cash. Stanford, however, did not accumulate his fortune by throwing money at bodies with a track record of profligacy.

The event itself embraces the Twenty20 concept which has swept the world - with the notable exception of the Indian board who have more than one eye on the commercial pitfalls of shorter matches. The clothing is, unsurprisingly, coloured, but the bats are black, the balls are orange and even the helmets are black with a blue and yellow stripe.

The format is more familiar. A round of preliminary matches will eliminate three teams, then its four more knockout rounds, with a semi-final on August 11 and a final two days later.

Stanford's aim is simple. He has lived in the Caribbean for more than two decades and his aim is to restore the fortunes of the game in the region. Matches will be televised throughout the West Indies and all games are being played at the newly-constructed Stanford Stadium in Antigua.

It remains to be seen whether the event grabs the imagination. Even if it does not, Stanford is unlikely to be dissuaded. But the build-up has been well handled and it won't be for want of trying if things don't go according to plan.

Perhaps the real future of the Stanford vision is hinted at later in the year when West Indies play South Africa in a $5 million winner-takes-all match. That will challenge the world order and really brush the WICB up the wrong way. But for now, the fun starts on the home front.