Holding backs Stanford initiative

Michael Holding, the former West Indies fast bowler, is confident that the Stanford's initiative, not just the game of Twenty20, will help in the development of West Indies cricket.

"What Stanford is doing is not just having a Twenty20 tournament. As you know he has started some Pro Teams," Holding told the Caribbean Media Corporation.

"There are four [St. Lucia, Anguilla, Antigua and Nevis] at the moment and he intends to expand on that. He has given a lot at the different islands' board level, money to help with their development, infrastructure and preparation of their teams and that will do a great deal to help West Indies cricket."

Holding had expressed reservations to the Twenty20 form of the game but recently joined the Stanford board of directors. He believed that the funding provided by Standford would help in upgrading the standard of cricket.

"I think with that funding and the infrastructure that has been going into the islands, especially the lesser islands that you don't usually think of producing Test cricketers, that it will improve the standard of their play.

"And if they are improving the standard of their play, the standard of the tournament will rise, and that is what we are hoping for."