Bermuda will make their debut in the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools Tournament in Barbados next month.

Late plans to have the Island included in the 19th edition of the popular competition have been finalised and a 14-member squad departs July 9 to participate in the event which starts July 11.

Bermuda, which is among 24 teams in the tournament, will use it as a warm-up for the ICC Under-19 regional qualifier for the Youth World Cup in Malaysia next year. The Island?s Under-19 squad will contest the regional qualifier in Canada later this summer.

However, one of the Island?s Under-19 coaches Andre (Doc) Manders explained that while the majority of Bermuda?s Under-19 unit will be heading to Barbados, some will remain here because of age restrictions.

?These guys in this tournament have to be 18 and under so our players who are 19 can?t go on but they would still be eligible to go to Canada. We have about four or five of our more experienced guys who are not going on this trip but they will be still be training with Arnold (Manders) while we?re away,? he said.

?We are basically going for the experience. We?re taking a young team and it?s our first time but we hope to win a couple matches.?

Bermuda is in Zone A of the three-group tournament and, in the preliminaries, will face teams from Curacau, Dominica, Grenada, India, Trinidad, St. Lucia and the USA. Teams from England, Scotland and several Caribbean nations are entered. Oronde Bascome (captain), Rodney Trott (vice captain), Steven Bremar Jr, Malachi Jones, Ramen Wijewardena, Dennico Hollis, Anthony Hayward, Lamar Richardson, Derrick Brangman, David Campbell, Jahron Dickinson, Jade Foggo, Kian Trott and Reginald Baker. Herbie Bascome and Andre Manders. Team manager yet to be finalised.