As a fifth generation Texan, it would be easy to assume that Allen Stanford would have little interest in the currently shambolic state of West Indian cricket.

But having lived in Antigua for the past 23 years, he is well aware of cricket's traditional importance to West Indian culture and has watched from the sidelines over the last decade as the region's once all-conquering side fell spectacularly from prominence.

His decision to adopt the new and exciting 20/20 format and to invest heavily in the game across the region has led to comparisons with the late Australian media mogul Kerry Packer, who signed up the world's best players in the late 1970s ? when international cricket was fast losing popularity ? to play in his own event labelled World Series Cricket.

Although despised by the cricketing establishment at the time, Packer's revolution has come to be regarded as the sport's saving grace.

Stanford is hoping to have a similar impact in the Caribbean.

The Texan's enormous wealth, reported to be in the billions of dollars, derives from his chairmanship of the Stanford Financial Group, a wealth management and financial services giant with offices across the globe.

He personally has invested millions of dollars in charitable causes both in Antigua and throughout the Caribbean.

However, his political contributions in Antigua have triggered numerous controversies and led to accusations of bribery ? accusations Stanford has always strenuously denied.