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ECB cut Stanford ties
ECB hie the blushes after dealings with rogue trader.
Last Modified: 20 Feb 2009 17:27 GMT

Sir Allen Stanford signs autographs, rather than cheques [GALLO/GETTY]
The England and Wales Cricket Board severed its ties with Twenty20 backer Allen Stanford on after the Texas billionaire was charged by U.S. regulators over an alleged multibillion dollar fraud.

The ECB said it is cancelling all its contracts with Stanford and will not participate in Twenty20 events in Antigua or a four-team tournament scheduled at Lord's in May.

The ECB had been under pressure to act after its judgment in signing up for a $20 million winner-takes-all match between England and a West Indies select team last November was questioned following the concerns over Stanford's dealings.

Some county teams had suggested ECB chairman Giles Clarke should consider his position in the wake of Tuesday's complaint in a Dallas Court by the United States' Securities and Exchange Commission against Stanford and three of his companies.

The commission alleges that about $8 billion of so-called certificates of deposit were effectively mis-sold to investors on the back of dubious promises of huge profits.

Stanford was found in Virginia on Thursday and served with the SEC complaint by FBI officials.

Source:
Agencies
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