England's cricket authorities have cut all ties with Twenty20 magnate Sir Allen Stanford, moving to quickly distance themselves from the Texan billionaire at the centre of an alleged US$8 billion investment fraud scheme.

The England and Wales Cricket Board announced yesterday they would terminate "with immediate effect" all contracts with Sir Allen, ruling out any further involvement in the five-year US$20 million winners-take-all match in Antigua and the proposed quadrangular Twenty20 tournament here later this year.

Joint decision

The move also comes following a joint decision of the England Cricket Board (ECB) and the West Indies Cricket Board to suspend all negotiations with Sir Allen over proposed Twenty20 tournaments.

"ECB was shocked by the charges filed against the Stanford organisation and personnel earlier this week by the SEC (the United States Securities and Exchange Commission)," ECB chief executive David Collier said.

"Within minutes of the announce-ment, ECB determined to suspend any further discussions with Stanford and the board has now agreed to terminate the ECB's agreements with Stanford."