Next year?s 20-20 World Cricket Classic will be a cross between the world-renowned Rugby Classic and Cup Match, organisers have promised.

The event, taking place next May, will see cricketing superstars of yesteryear descend on the Island for a raucous week of fast-paced cricket action at the National Sports Centre.

And John Kane, president of the Rugby Classic and one of the men behind bringing the event here in conjunction with the Get Fit Foundation (GEFF), is keen to defend the event against suggestions that the $1m being donated by Government is in some way going to affect preparations for the 2007 World Cup.

?There has been a lot said about Government wasting money on this event when they could spend it on the national team,? said Kane, whose views echo those of Sports Minister Dale Butler last week when he promised that the monies were separate and there was ?plenty more to come for the national team? on top of the $100,000 that was given at the welcome home ceremony following qualification for the World Cup..

?But that simply isn?t the case. Our event hopefully will make some money back, but more than that some of the money being spent by Government is money that was going to be spent anyway at the National Sports Centre.

?Of that $1m, a substantial amount was budgeted for improvements at the stadium, it is just a case of asking them to accelerate those items to help make this event the success we all know it is going to be.?

Kane also believes the Classic, to be held in April next year and featuring Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies, India, Sri Lanka, England and, of course, Bermuda, will leave an important legacy for Bermuda sport.

?The games will all be played at the National Sports Centre on an artificial pitch, one of the best in the world, specially flown in for the Cricket Classic,? he continued.

?I am not a technician so I can?t tell you the exact details of the equipment but this is a ?50,000 ($90,000) state-of-the-art pitch. They are flying a couple of guys out to show the locals how to use it and preserve the membrane that goes over the top and then after the Classic, the pitch will remain in Bermuda for the benefit of the clubs and the national team ? whoever wants to use it. It will provide a legacy for future young cricketers on the Island.

?And just having players here of the likes of Joel Garner, Robin Smith, Aravinda De Silva, will provide a wonderful opportunity for the national squad to be involved with some of the great names of cricket ? and that can only add to Bermuda?s preparation for a major cricketing experience.

?And it won?t be just the players who will benefit as former Test umpires will also be coming to Bermuda to work with their local counterparts during the Classic.?

As well as the pitch, a new electronic scoreboard will be in place for the tournament ? inspired by the success of the annual Rugby Classic, which was visited last year by representatives of GEFF. Kane, however, said it was ?unlikely? that a giant replay screen would be installed in time for the event.

GEFF, which has a remit to halt the epidemic rise in obesity and inactivity along with attendant health issues such as diabetes, colon cancer and heart conditions, has decided to utilise this top-class event to highlight their mandate and a full health expo will take place at the adjacent stadium during the week-long cricket festival.

Kane added that he expected the Classic, which organisers hope will be televised on tape delay on Sky Sports, to become an annual event.