Digicel, proud sponsor of West Indies Cricket, welcomes the Stanford 20/20 initiative scheduled to take place in Antigua in November between the West Indies and England.
Digicel applauds the various initiatives developed in 20/20 and recognizes the great potential that this format provides to the development of the game in the Caribbean.
Digicel’s comprehensive Sponsorship Agreement with the West Indies Cricket Board (“WICB”) affords Digicel a wide range of sole and exclusive rights as principal sponsor of West Indies cricket.
The Agreement also provides opportunities for other commercial bodies to become actively and financially involved in the development of cricket in the Caribbean.
Such provisions were expressly sought by Digicel in the negotiation of the Sponsorship Agreement with the WICB.
However, the involvement of such third parties must be in accordance with the terms of the Sponsorship Agreement and must respect the clear and unequivocal rights granted to Digicel by the WICB in exchange for Digicel’s guaranteed minimum US$20 million investment over the five year period of the Sponsorship Agreement.
Digicel will also invest close to that amount again in operational and support costs for the Sponsorship Agreement with the WICB as Digicel looks to substantially progress the development of the sport of cricket throughout the West Indies.
Regrettably, the WICB has recently entered into a separate agreement with a third party which wholly compromises the exclusive rights granted to Digicel as principal sponsor of West Indies cricket.
Digicel has been involved in intensive negotiations and communications with the WICB in an effort to resolve this situation. Unfortunately Digicel’s considerable efforts in this regard have not resolved this situation.
As such, Digicel has been left with no option but to refer the matter to a formal dispute resolution process as provided for in the Sponsorship Agreement with the WICB.
Digicel has taken this step in order to protect the valuable rights which are enshrined in the Sponsorship Agreement entered into with the WICB.
Digicel remains hopeful that this matter can be resolved quickly and amicably and that we can all look forward to a successful and exciting 20/20 event in November.
Digicel remains firmly and enthusiastically committed to the further development of cricket throughout the Caribbean and will continue its support for the sport throughout the West Indies.
This continuing commitment has been evident over the past number of months with such exciting initiatives as the Digicel cricket coaching clinics, the Digicel Scholarship programme, the Digicel Scotiabank Cricket Experience and Digicel’s Extra Cover TV show.
Digicel’s support for the West Indies team is also evident in its various innovative measures including the funding of a bowling coach, a team psychologist and a top level fitness coach for the West Indies team.
