Bermuda could be on the verge of a six-figure cash injection after a Texas billionaire announced he is to plough $28m into Caribbean cricket.

Texas businessman Allen Stanford announced his incredible plans, which include an annual Twenty20 competition to involve 17 Caribbean countries including Bermuda as well as two $5m winners-take-all games games in November next year featuring a Caribbean Super Stars XI against ?world-class? opponents, to a fanfare of publicity yesterday.

Any team signing up to take part in the tournament instantly receives $100,000 followed by another $10,000 each month to help players and coaches prepare.

Needless to say the Bermuda Cricket Board, subject to receiving all the details of the event, are prepared to bite his hand off to be involved.

?It just sounds too good to be true,? said BCB chief executive Neil Speight yesterday.

?We are excited, very excited, about all of this. We received some details a couple of weeks ago but I don?t think they have even set the dates for this so it is far too early to say a definite ?yes? but we eagerly await more details which we expect soon.

?We have very ambitious plans for this team and any additional funding we receive will, of course, be very welcome. This is another tournament for us and another opportunity for us to get some international exposure, so we are very keen to be involved.

?His plans really are very impressive and what association wouldn?t want to be involved in something like this. This could be fantastic for Bermuda and for the region.?

He added he was hopeful that the event wouldn?t conflict with any of the Board?s other ambitious plans leading up to the World Cup which include around ten weeks of competition next year at home as well as in North America and Africa.

Stanford?s plan has sent shockwaves through the region, with the Antigua-based businessman prepared to stump up so much cash for the tournament, set to be staged next August or September, including a $1m first prize.

?My vision for the Stanford Twenty20 tournament is that it will be the catalyst for a resurgence of love for the game,? he said, adding that Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Maarten, British Virgin Islands, St Vincent and Trinidad & Tobago were the teams expected to be involved.

He also aims to set up a professional Super League in the region ? something else the BCB were excited about.

?I have witnessed first-hand the power the game of cricket wields over the people in this region,? continued Stanford.

?West Indies cricket is an almost tangible force which can unify an entire country, an entire group of people, no matter the differences that might exist off the field.

?The energy, the pride, the passion that cricket has inspired in the people of the Caribbean is not only moving but infectious.?

Many former West Indies greats are also backing Stanford?s plans and his announcement was attended by Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Viv Richards and Sir Everton Weekes, Clive Lloyd, Ambrose, Walsh, Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes.