West Indies cricket has been handed another huge financial boost by Texas-born billionaire Allen Stanford.

The man responsible for next month?s Stanford 20/20 tournament in the Caribbean, for which Bermuda have already received $100,000 just for competing, has now announced plans for a $5 million 20-20 match between the West Indies and South Africa in Antigua this November.

?Everything has been agreed and we expect to sign the contracts next week,? Cricket South Africa commercial manager Steve Elworthy said yesterday, adding that the winners would pocket $5 million and both teams would receive $100,000 in appearance fees.

Scheduled to take place on November 12, the lucrative one-off game is being financed solely by Stanford, a Texan who is now an Antiguan citizen.

It will be the richest prize in any form of cricket.

Australia picked up $2 million for capturing the World Cup in 2003 as well as smaller purses accumulated for winning earlier matches.

Stanford has spent $28 million sponsoring next month?s domestic 20-20 competition and has also financed the building of a new hospital in Antigua.

?If everyone?s keen to do it, then why not?? South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher said yesterday.

?Obviously he (Stanford) is determined to get West Indian cricket back up and running and I take my hat off to him because that?s a lot of money to fork out for one 20-over game.

?Maybe it?s a sign of things to come for cricket.?

Boucher admitted that the amount of money at stake would add to the pressure the players felt on the field.

?If you never play for that amount of money then you?re not used to it,? Boucher said.

?So the guys were joking that you don?t want to be bowling the last ball of the match and the opposition needs six to win.

?If you get knocked for that six you just might be unpopular in the changing room.?

It was in January of this year that Stanford flew into Bermuda with four West Indian cricket greats ? Lance Gibbs, Andy Roberts, Ian Bishop and Richie Richardson ? to launch his July tournament and outline his broad vision for the urgent regeneration of West Indian cricket.

All 19 countries competing next month have already received $100,000 up front and the winners will receive $1 million.

Those same countries have also been given a $10,000 stipend per month to help with the preparation of the players, $5,000 per month to maintain and improve practice facilities and free access to nutritionists and physical trainers who are travelling around the region to assist the teams involved.

In total Bermuda will receive $280,000 just for taking part.

Each nation has also been assigned a West Indian cricket ?legend? ? in Bermuda?s case former Test offspinner Lance Gibbs - who will be responsible for liasing with the teams and overseeing how the money is spent.

During his visit, Stanford told a press conference: ?I love what the game stands for and what it means to the West Indies.

?Slowly we have watched our cricket go down the tubes and it has got to such a poor state that I decided something needed to be done. We in the Caribbean have the most naturally gifted athletes in the world bar none but over the years the money and the infrastructure has not been there.

?Cricket has not evolved in the way other sports have in the 21st century, particularly in terms of remuneration for the players. Now we can either let cricket become a dinosaur or we can try and turn it into a Ferrari. I am convinced that the Stanford 20/20 will be the shot in the arm that West Indies cricket needs, to add the excitement and entertainment that will get young people in the Caribbean talking about and playing cricket again.?