that a local exempt company would be donating in excess of $100,000 over a five year period to the development of the game.

Exel Limited, who have established themselves as one of the biggest exempt companies since setting up in Bermuda in 1986, have come to the aid of the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control with the generous six-figure donation.

The company has been assisting local groups and organizations since 1988, but made it formal more than a year ago when they set up the Exel Foundation which is made up of four Bermudians, Bob Tucker, Jimmy Amos, Lady Astwood and Senator Albert Jackson.

The group meets once a month to decide how best to distribute the funds in the four categories, medical, educational, cultural and "all other'', under which cricket has fallen. Exel Limited make six-figure donations to each category.

"We decided back about 18 months ago that we needed to formalise our methods of distributing funds,'' said Michael Kevany who is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Exel Limited yesterday. Kevany, who is Irish, is a keen follower of the game.

"This is a five year commitment and we would like that money spent fundamentally on the younger groups,'' added Kevany in reference to the donation made to cricket's governing body. "As far as we're concerned it's a tremendous investment in the future of Bermuda. They (BCBC) have to give an accounting of how they spend the money.'' With the BCBC having a demanding international schedule which has already included a couple of tours this year, to be followed by the ICC Trophy next year in Kenya, BCBC president Ed Bailey expressed his gratitute on behalf of the Board and the cricket fraternity.

"Obviously we're quite appreciative and extremely gratified that they have chosen cricket, especially with the present programme we have,'' said Bailey.

"These funds are going to be used for the development of the sport of cricket. One way to develope cricketers is to give them exposure at a higher standard.

"This is the largest financial commitment we've had from a business entity in Bermuda, something which seems to be going on in so many other countries. This is why some countries have developed extremely quickly. Exel have, outside of the Government, made the largest contribution to the development of cricket.'' Bermuda have been paired in Group D along with Denmark, Fijim Hong Kong and West Africa for the first round of matches in next year's ICC Trophy. The 20 teams are split into four groups of five with Holland, Papua New Guinea, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malaysia making up Group A; Bangladesh, United States, United Arab Emirates, East and Central Africa and Argentina in Group B and Kenya, Canada, Namibia, Singapore and Israel in Group C.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the second round where they will form two groups of four. The top three teams will advance to the 1996 World Cup alongwith the nine Test playing countries.

The remaining 12 teams in the ICC will be divided into three groups of four for consolation matches.

BOOST FOR BOARD -- BCBC president Ed Bailey (right) receives a substantial donation from top Exel Limited official, Michael Kevany, yesterday.