Cricket officials have unveiled their plan for securing World Cup qualification, with an ambitious six-month programme of training camps and tours.

Although still operating without a coach, the Bermuda Cricket Board are confident their schedule will prepare Clay Smith?s men for the ICC Trophy in Ireland this summer and give them every chance of qualification.

At the heart of the programme, which is heavily dependent on Government and corporate funding and is yet to be confirmed in its entirety, are a Caribbean training camp next month, an incoming five-match tour in May as well as a ten-day UK tour featuring games against county 2nd XIs.

?The Board believes that we have a favourable draw in Ireland as we have avoided the three teams that went to the last World Cup and also Scotland, who are one of the top ranked Associate member sides,? said BCB president Reggie Pearman.

?We believe that Bermuda has the potential to beat every side in our group. The workload at the tournament will be heavy, and traditionally our team has not been one of the fittest at any competition; so we endeavouring to make sure our players are appropriately physically conditioned so that they will be as fit in the last game of the tournament as they will be for the first.?

Under the supervision of physio Daniel Morgan, the squad have been training together three times a week since November while each player has been given a personal fitness programme.

Jamaica and Trinidad are two of the three venues being examined for bases for a ten-day training camp next month as the squad build towards the 12-nation tournament in July.

?While there, the players will be able to concentrate more fully on their fitness programmes as well as getting in the nets and working on their fielding,? continued Pearman.

?The venue for the training camp has not yet been finalised, but the BCB are currently in negotiations with three separate cricketing authorities.?

But after a summer of defeats in both the Americas Cup and the Intercontinental Cup, it is practice games that many feel the squad are most in need of ? and something the BCB are desperate to arrange despite some ?challenging? issues over funding due to Bermuda?s geographical isolation.

Matches begin with a series of intra-squad practice games in March and April, with squad players using a white ball and coloured clothing to try and recreate the conditions for the Ireland tournament.

The first real test, however, will come later in April with the BCB hoping to bring in a tour side for four or five matches.

They are currently in negotiations with Scotland, Canada and USA for the event, although the latter may be unwilling to return to Bermuda after recording easy victories against the Island side this summer, while also having to deal with erratic, quickly-detoriating wickets.

The final stage of the preparation will take place ten days before the main event, with the BCB hopeful of arranging four matches in the UK.

?The opposition has not yet been finalised but possibilities include some county 2nd XIs, other teams involved in the tournament, or other select sides,? said Pearman.

?The purpose of this will be to give the players further match practice under the specific conditions they will experience in Ireland. The Board is also investigating the possibility of playing one or two games in Ireland immediately prior to the tournament.?