two-week tour by the famous Marylebone Cricket Club between May 15-29 next year.

Included among a pool of 14 for the seven-game tour are former Pakistan Test leg break bowler Abdul Qadir, former West Indies batsman Philo Wallace and former Australian skipper Alan Border -- although the latter still has to be confirmed.

Leading the squad as skipper will be wicketkeeper Colin Metson who also plays for Glamorgan and Wales while tour manager will be Richard Luddington, a former player with Oxford University and Teddington Cricket Club.

The full squad is as follows: Colin Metson (captain), Steve Marsh (Kent), Abdul Qadir (Pakistan), David Goodson (Leicestershire 2nd XI), Paul Atkins (Surrey), Graham Harding (Combined Universities), Philo Wallace (West Indies and Barbados), Robert Jones (Lancashire 2nd XI), Ian Hampshire (club unknown), Steve Andrew (Essex and Hampshire), Deon Kruis (Griquland West and Esher CC), Tim Kirk (Derbyshire 2nd XI and Chesterfield CC), Alan Border (Australia and Queensland).

Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president El James said yesterday he was delighted about the prospect of entertaining such a quality squad with the tour being the first major visit organised by the current administration since they came into office three years ago.

"We are excited about hosting a team like MCC who are synonymous with the sport of cricket, having built up a tremendous reputation over the years during their travels throughout the world,'' said James.

He noted that their ranks also included top notch players such as current England players, captain Nasser Hussain and Mark Ramprakash.

MCC's visit to the Island will involve more than just seven games. The players have also agreed to go into the schools to stage clinics as well as visit various clubs.

"It's great that they have agreed to go far beyond what is expected of visiting teams to promote the sport of cricket. It's clear that they will not be coming for a vacation as some cricket teams have done in the past,'' said James.

"This tour fits nicely into our plans as it will lead up to the ICC tournament which will be staged in Canada. It will give our team the opportunity to play against some top class opposition and see where we are ability-wise prior to Toronto (ICC Tournament).

"We intend to put everything into preparing for ICC because it offers us what could be the best chance that Bermuda has ever had to advance to the World Cup.'' When James and his committee took over cricket they avoided bringing in foreign tours because they said that their priority from the outset was to concentrate on a development programme geared towards re-establishing a good youth programme.

Now that they have organised two leagues, sponsored by Shell and BF&M, the Board are leaning towards having more Test playing countries and other prominent teams visit the Island.

"Our junior leagues are up and running and that means that we have to put some effort into keeping other areas of cricket functioning. We have to keep the senior players interested and involved and if the sponsorship is there then Bermuda may see more quality senior tours grace our shores,'' said the president.