KEN GORDON, the president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), has offered the olive branch to Allen Stanford, founder of the Stanford 20/20 cricket tournament.

Speaking at the WICB's workshop at the Royal Antigua Hotel in St. John's on Monday, Gordon said that he wished to thank Stanford for bringing something new to cricket in the region.

"Twenty/20 is now part of the cricket life in the Caribbean and we must continue with it," said Gordon. "We will continue to leave the door open. If Mr. Stanford and his group find a way to work with us, we will be delighted. The board is appreciative of what Mr. Stanford has done. We will have to get on with it since 20/20 is now part of the international cricket agenda."

Aware of responsibilities

In a short response to a speech made earlier in the day by Dr. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada and chairman of the CARICOM heads of governments committee on cricket - a speech in which the PM lectured the board on its responsibilities as the leaders of West Indies cricket, Gordon said that the WICB was extremely aware of its responsibilities to the West Indian people and that "we have a board that genuinely wants to take cricket to a higher level, but we need help and institutional support".

The one-day workshop, part sponsored by the Stanford Group of Companies, was attended by representatives of stakeholders in West Indies cricket, including coaches, umpires and past players. It was designed to discuss the problems of West Indies cricket, and among the things discussed were marketing, funding, coaching, the establishment of an academy at the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill campus) umpiring, grounds and facilities.

- Tony Becca