SIR ALLEN Stanford, the real big man in cricket, the billionaire from Texas who has spent millions of dollars on the game in the West Indies, has disbanded his collection of West Indies heroes, Legends, as he called them.

That has left cricket fans around the region wondering just what this means for cricket in the West Indies.

In two seasons, Stanford spent a lot of his money on the Stanford 20/20 with the top individual performers receiving handsome rewards, the winning team collecting US$1 million and the runners-up US$500,000.

And Stanford's money did not only go to the players. With the national association of each of the participating teams receiving US$200,000 per season, with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) collecting US$2 million per season for sanctioning the Stanford 20/20, with the WICB pocketing US$3.5 million from the Stanford 20/20 for 20 and looking forward to the same over the next four years, West Indies cricket, through the WICB, also benefited.

Cricket hurting

To lose so much financial support would certainly hurt West Indies cricket. Although there are those who believe that Twenty20 cricket is nothing more than fun and that Stanford's 20/20 is nothing but a festival - a nice big party - there is no question that apart from turning 11 West Indians into millionaires overnight, the Stanford 20/20 has, or had, brought with it some new fans to the game.

It has brought some money for players right around the West Indies and some much needed money for the financially-strapped WICB.

According to Stanford, however, there may be nothing to worry about - and certainly not in the near future. According to him, the disbanding of the 'Legends' does not mean it is all over. According to a release from the billionaire, it is simply the start of a review process.

What is really interesting, however, is what Stanford had to say in his release.

Although Stanford said that what is happening now is only a review process, although he said nothing about the WICB and West Indies cricket, the Texan/Antiguan who, according to reports, lost US$40 million during the Stanford 20/20 for 20 tournament just under two months ago, talked about his involvement with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and his wish to continue working with it.

Continuing with ECB

David Collier, CEO of the ECB, has spoken to Stanford and, according to him, the big man told him not to worry, that he (Stanford) will still be dealing with the ECB.

The question, however, is this: after all the complaints surrounding its involvement with Stanford, after all the bad press it received during the Stanford 20/20 for 20, after all the criticisms for apparently jumping in bed with Stanford because of his money, will the ECB be willing to continue its relationship with Stanford?

Based on the fact that the ECB had earlier said, after the Stanford 20/20 for 20, it would be having a review of the relationship, it would seem the answer to the question would be no - an emphatic no at that.

Right now, however, it does not appear that that will be so and it has nothing to do with the fact that review has not yet taken place.

It has to do with the fact that with the proposed annual quadrangular 20/20 tournament at Lord's cricket ground, that with the proposed English Premier League and the involvement of a Stanford team, the relationship could mean money for the ECB.

On top of that, Vodafone, sponsor of English cricket since 1998, said recently that it will not be renewing that sponsorship when it expires in 2010. In the present financial climate, the ECB may need a friend like Stanford.

Parting with WICB

While Stanford and the ECB appear set to continue their union, Stanford seems set to part company with the WICB. It appears to me that, barring a miracle, barring something extraordinary, Stanford is about to pick up his ball, take away his bat, pull his stumps and stop the game.

In the opinion of many, the reason for the present situation with Stanford is not that the man has suddenly lost his so often professed love for West Indies cricket or that, as far as his ego is concerned, he has already got enough out of his involvement with the game.

To them, it may well be that he is mad with Digicel, that he is fed up with the WICB and that he has decided to pack his bag.

Stanford has a lot of money and there can be no question about that. No one, however, likes to lose money, and it may well be that some one has pinched him, has shown him how much he has spent already. How much he has lost and, as far as the West Indies is concerned, he has decided to cut his losses and especially so with so many 'ungrateful' people around.

There could be, however, other reasons for the Stanford 'review', which could lead to his withdrawal.

Raid in Venezuela

A few weeks ago, the Telegraph in England published an article in which it stated that Stanford's offshore bank in Venezuela was raided by the country's military intelligence and documents confiscated.

The raid followed a suspicion that the bank's employees included a few who were paid by the CIA to spy on Venezuela.

In that same article, two other allegations against Stanford and his group were reported.

One stated that a woman, Makeda Mikael, has accused Stanford of attempting to force her off land on which she owns a firm handling VIP and celebrity flights at the airport, and that the case is now before the Privy Council in Britain.

The other concerns a charge by two former employees, Charles Rawl and Mark Tidwell, that they were forced to resign by the bank because they refused to take part in illegal activities.

The charge by the two former employees has led to an investigation by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission over deposits made at the Stanford Group's bank in Antigua.

Some will be sorry

Whatever the reason for Stanford's 'review", it does seem that Stanford's interest in West Indies cricket and his contribution has come to an end and there are those who, mainly because of his attitude, will clap their hands and say 'good riddance'.

Because of the money offered to some of the stars of yesterday, however, because of the rich cash prizes available to the players, because of the entertainment he provided and the fans he brought to the game, there are those, and none more so than the government and people of Antigua, who will be sorry that the big Texan has called it a day or appears set to do so.