ECB in talks with Stanford

15 April 2008

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed that meetings have been held with Sir Allen Stanford in the full knowledge of the West Indies Cricket Board.

The meetings, which were held in London, were described as "very positive and constructive".

Detailed proposals will be submitted to the ECB and will be further discussed during the month of May. This is in line with the ECB concluding its strategic approach towards Twenty20 cricket.

ECB has also confirmed that in accordance with decisions taken by International Cricket Council – and supported by both the Board of Control for Cricket in India and ECB – that the Future Tours Programme takes precedence over domestic competitions.

The England team director will continue to determine which players can be rested or released from their central contracts from time to time on the basis that the Future Tours Programme always takes precedence.

The ECB will act in accordance with this policy but has never stated that centrally contracted players are banned from IPL.

It should be noted that in 2008 and 2009 the npower Test series clashes with the scheduled dates of the Indian Premier League but future schedules of the IPL from 2010 onwards are yet to be released.