A two-man delegation from the West Indies Cricket Board is due to arrive on the Island tomorrow for talks that could see a strengthening of ties with that governing body and Bermuda Cricket Board of Control.

And officials of the BCBC are hoping that it will pave the way for incoming tours by the West Indies Test team and other teams from the Caribbean as well as help the Island become more involved in regional competitions.

The visit by Director of Cricket Development, Dr. Michael Seepersaud, and his assistant, former Test wicketkeeper Jeffrey Dujon, comes following an invitation by the BCBC.

"We've been concerned about our connection with the West Indies Cricket Board, especially since we come under their umbrella. We thought it was necessary to make a formal approach to them to try and seek some information because we didn't see anything they were doing to assist our cricket and the development of the sport in Bermuda," said BCBC secretary Charlotte Simmons.

In their communications with the WICB, the local governing body asked for information about the prospects of a Bermuda senior team being entered in the Red Stripe Bowl and the Busta Cup or other regional tournaments in the Caribbean.

Other queries forwarded included the possibility of Bermuda entertaining the West Indies Test teams, whether Bermuda's youngsters would be accepted in cricket academies such as that currently run by the WICB in Grenada, whether local coaches, groundsmen and scorers could participate in courses run by the WICB and whether Bermuda's under-19 and under-15 national squads might be invited to play in tournaments in the Caribbean. Also, the possibility of the WICB assisting in a `kiddie' cricket programme in the local schools was sought.

Simmons said that it looked as though the Board's inquiries were timely since the WICB had only recently elected new development officers and Dr. Seepersaud had a reputation of being somebody "who got things done".

"We are delighted that their top two developmental officers have made themselves available to come so quickly, and naturally we are hoping that they will carefully consider our queries. We are not sure they will be able to give us immediate answers because they may have to report back to their Board, but just hearing what we have to present is a giant step," said Simmons.

"The important thing is that since they had new people in place we had to see what they could and could not do for us. And by meeting with them and letting them know about our aims and needs when it comes to development we feel this is the right way to go."