The notion that Bermuda cricketers place more importance on playing Cup Match over representing their country will be put to the test next year when the dates for the annual classic clashes with the 2015 World Twenty20 Qualifier in Ireland and Scotland.

But Allan Douglas, a former Cup Match and Bermuda wicketkeeper and now chairman of the Bermuda Cricket Board coaching committee, said that country over Cup Match is a no-brainer.

Douglas made such a decision in 1987 when, as coach of the Bermuda Under-19 team, he vacated his Cup Match spot in order to travel with the team to Ireland for the International Youth Tournament.

That youth team contained another player in line for Cup Match, wicketkeeper Dean Minors, who delayed his Cup Match debut by a year in order to represent Bermuda, though his St George’s team-mate Clay Smith opted to miss the trip and make his debut in Cup Match that year.

“Cup Match or your country and qualify [for the World T20] is a no-brainer,” said Douglas. “If they choose Cup Match then it is obviously clear where their priorities lie. For me you should be representing your country.”

St George’s won Cup Match in 1987 when Wendell Smith picked up his first victory as captain as Anthony Trott returned after a 12-year absence to play as wicketkeeper in the absence of Douglas and Minors.

Douglas said that he never regretted his decision to get on the plane just before Cup Match. “It was a choice that I made, my country has always been number one and that’s what I did and I’d do the same today,” he said.

“If I was a player today my choice would be to play for country, but that’s just me.

“It will be very interesting to see what some of these guys will do. Does it weaken Cup Match or give somebody the chance to make their mark? I wouldn’t hesitate to urge guys to put their country first.”

Of the two Cup Match clubs, Somerset would probably be hit the hardest as their entire team are national players or players on the fringe of the team while only about half of the St George’s team — based on interest shown when the last Bermuda team travelled abroad — would likely opt to travel with the national side.

The World T20 Qualifier will take place from July 9 to August 2 in 2015 while Cup Match is scheduled for July 30 and 31 that year.

The World T20 was recently held in Bangladesh with Sri Lanka beating India in the final. The ICC has agreed to retain the format for the next World T20 to be held in India in 2016.

Six qualifiers will progress from the 14-team qualifiers in Ireland and Scotland next year to join the ninth and tenth ranked Test teams in first round qualification matches in India. The top eight ranked Test teams will advance to the second qualifying round at the 2016 World T20.