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Page last updated at 18:39 GMT, Monday, 6 October 2008 19:39 UK

England confident over $20m match

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The ECB has signed a $100m five-year deal with Stanford

England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke believes the $20m (�11.5m) match between England and a Caribbean team will go ahead.

The West Indies Cricket Board and their major sponsor Digicel are involved in a rights row ahead of the Stanford Super Series game, scheduled for 1 November.

But Clarke told BBC Sport: "Everyone involved is concerned about the best interests of West Indies cricket.

"I'm sure the wise heads involved will sort out the issues."

The root of the dispute is Digicel's claim that, under the terms of their five-year sponsorship contract with the WICB, they have branding rights for the game, which will see a Stanford Superstars XI take on Kevin Pietersen's England.

I'm sure that everybody is seeking to find a sensible solution to enable this very dramatic and extremely exciting game of cricket to go ahead

Giles Clarke, ECB chairman

Digicel's stance has angered the match organisers, Stanford 20/20, who would rather find their own sponsors for the match.

Stanford 20/20 claim that because the match is not an official West Indies fixture then Digicel's deal with the WICB does not apply, freeing them up to find their own sponsors.

Both parties attempted to find a resolution without success, forcing the current arbitration to take place.

After Digicel rejected a compromise plan put forward by Stanford 20/20 they claimed the organisers had refused to enter into further negotiations.

But because of the high sums of money and television exposure at stake, an agreement to ensure the game will go ahead has always been the most likely outcome.

"I've got no reason to believe it won't go ahead as scheduled," said Clarke. "It's an arbitration involving two other parties rather than ourselves or Stanford.

"There are issues that the West Indies Cricket Board are addressing with Digicel and we're not party to the issue.

"It's a matter between the two of them and I'm sure that everybody is seeking to find a sensible solution to enable this very dramatic and extremely exciting game of cricket to go ahead."

606: DEBATE

It is reported that a deal could be done within the next 24 hours.

Such a scenario would avoid the dispute going before the High Court in London, where Digicel lodged their case in August after being overlooked as sponsors for the match, which is due to take place at the Stanford Cricket Ground in Antigua.


see also
Stanford Super Series fixtures
20 Sep 08 |  England
Sammy gets late Stanford call-up
19 Sep 08 |  West Indies
Stanford plans global expansion
12 Jun 08 |  Cricket


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