St John’s, Antigua – The winners of the Caribbean T20 Tournament 2011 will take home US$62 500 as the West Indies Cricket Board announced a significant increase in the prize monies for this year’s event.

The champions will pocket the handsome sum – a massive increase of US$37 500 from the US$25 000 which Guyana won last year. Overall, close to US$125 000 will be up for grabs during what promises to be two weeks of exciting cricket.

Apart from the attractive first prize, the winning team will get their hands on the coveted Caribbean T20 trophy. The other big incentive for the top placed Caribbean team is a spot in Airtel Champions League to be played later this year in India.

In making the announcement, the WICB outlined that the prize fund is more than double the US$53 000 which the teams took home during the inaugural tournament last year.

The second-placed team will collect US$25 000 – an increase of US$15 000. There are also incentives for the losing semi-finalists. The third-placed team will get US$12 500 and the fourth-placed side will pocket US$10 000.

The Star-of-the-Match in each match will get US$500 as well as a glittering custom-designed plaque.