Stanford apologises to England players

Sir Allen Stanford last night offered an apology for his part in an incident that upset England's players during Sunday's match with Middlesex.

Stanford, who bankrolls the $20m showdown between England and his own Caribbean collective this weekend, was shown on the big screen at the ground sitting among the players' partners, with wicketkeeper Matt Prior's wife Emily on his lap.

During the footage, which was televised, the 58-year-old also put his arms around some of the women.

A number of England players, in the field at the time, found the episode inappropriate, triggering phone calls from Stanford, to Prior as well as England captain Kevin Pietersen.

"He understood that the players were not particularly pleased with the incident and as a result of that he apologised," said a Stanford spokesman.

"He called both Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior personally and they have accepted his apology."

Stuart Broad, who was bowling at the time, said: "There were a few gobsmacked faces when it popped up on the big screen."

An England spokesman added: "As far as we are concerned, the matter is now closed."