Two squads of young cricketers will leave the Island this weekend to test themselves against the best of the rest from the Americas and the Caribbean.

The Under-15s head to New York on Sunday for the U15 ICC Americas Division One Championship against America and Canada, while the Under-13s depart for St Kitts & Nevis tomorrow for a tournament where they will come up against the likes of Barbados and Antigua.

Shea Pitcher will captain the Under-15s in their week-long tournament, which will be played under a double round robin format, with each team playing each other twice. Coach Grant Smith will be accompanied on the trip by Under-15s director Braxton Stowe, assistant coach Allan Douglas and board member James Pace.

"I would like to congratulate the players on their selection into the squad," said Bermuda Cricket Board president, Reginald Pearman. "The Under-15 team is an important squad to be in as they have the chance to compete against the best of the Americas Region.

"The tournament will expose the players to the hard work and commitment it takes to get to the top, and I look forward to them representing the senior national side in the not too distant future."

While the Under-15s are in the US, the Under-13s will be in the Caribbean under the guidance of former national team captain Clay Smith. Keishun Smith will captain the team in the St. Kitts & Nevis U13 Regional Cricket Competition.

The squad are due to play six games against teams from St. Kitts, Barbados, Nevis, Anguilla, Dominica and Antigua & Barbuda. Bermuda's opening game is against St. Kitts on August 18 and they finish against Antigua & Barbuda on August 25. After these games are completed the teams will compete in a Ten10 competition.

"Once again we are happy to be able to provide a wonderful opportunity for Bermuda's young cricketers to gain experience on the international stage," said Pearman. "I would like to thank St. Kitts and Nevis for their invitation and look forward to a well organised and competitive tournament. I expect that our young men will represent our country well on and off the field."

Bermuda squads:

Under-15s: Shea Pitcher (Capt), Joshua Gilbert (V-Capt), Kamau Leverock, Christian Burgess, Zeko Burgess, Tre Manders, Kamel Easton, Kwasi James, Kirt Brown, Shaquille Jones, Winton Woodley, Jahnai Ratteray, Jonte' Smith, Dante' Wellman. Management: Braxton Stowe, Grant Smith, Allan Douglas, James Pace.

Under-13s: Keishun Smith (Capt), Charles Marshall III (V-Capt), Delray Rawlins, Cejay Outerbridge, Dage Minors, Joshua Commissiong, Christion Gibbons-Wade, Azende Furbert, Micah Perozzi, Khalif Williams, Antonio Darrell, Giovanni Warren, Joshua Liyanage, Janhoi Bean-Wilson. Management: Calvin Waldron, Clay Smith, Damon Edwards.