A star-studded Over 45s Bermuda XI will compete in the Antigua Independence Tournament in Antigua in October, confirmed Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) executive Allen Richardson yesterday.

The tournament, organised by former West Indies skipper Richie Richardson, will see regional selects from the Caribbean compete against teams from England, USA and now Bermuda at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St.John?s, Antigua.

Richardson said a selection committee will be formed in the near future that will be responsible for ensuring all players chosen to represent the Island successfully meet the necessary criteria for team selection.

The tour will be fully sanctioned by the BCB, local cricket?s governing body.

Prior to last week?s successful 20-20 World Cricket Classic at the National Sports Centre, there were those in favour of having a local Over 45 team represent Bermuda at the tournament instead of the senior national team that was beaten in the final by eventual champions South Africa.

?I think this is a very wonderful opportunity because in the past we did have one or two ?Oldie Goldie? teams, as they used to be called, that travelled overseas to play. I just think this is another opportunity for some of the former players to get together because as I am now learning there are many Master, per se, tournaments available throughout the world,? Richardson told .

?So I definitely believe this is good opportunity for some of the old players to dust the old pads off and come back out to enjoy themselves and meet new friends or re-acquaint themselves with old ones.?

And so far response from former players has been very good, Richardson said.

?I have had many requests and I?m sure that after this article I?ll get many more,? he added. ?So the interest is definitely there even more so because of the 20-20 tournament that was played here recently.

?So the interest has peaked and I have had an excellent response and the only thing I am awaiting is all the particulars from Richardson (Richie) concerning accommodations so that I can put together a full package and present it.?

Richardson is a former St.David?s and St.George?s Cup Match opening bat and second batsman to score 1,000 runs in the 103-year-old history of the Eastern Counties cup competition.

He is currently a top order batsman for Commercial side North Village.

Former Southampton Rangers fast bowler and Western Counties Cricket Association (WCCA) executive Randy (Bugsy) Raynor has already been appointed manager of team expected to boast around 17 members.

The Antigua Independence Tournament runs from October 21 to 27.

?I know a couple of players including myself have been invited and I?m probably the youngest player having just gone 45,? commented former Somerset Cup Match skipper Andre (Doc) Manders.

Manders, along with Social Club?s Charlie Marshall, are two of the most senior players in local cricket today and veterans of Bermuda?s victorious 1979 International Youth Tournament (IYT) squad.

Former Bermuda coach Allan Douglas is also among those interested in making the trip along with senior national cricket team chairman of selectors and past Bermuda skipper Arnold Manders and former St.George?s Cup Match skipper Clevie (Palmer) Wade.

?It will be a pleasure to mingle with old the boys again, chit chat about old times and also compete against old rivals from the Caribbean ,? said Wade, who scored a memorable 127 against Antigua at Somerset Cricket Club in 1984.

Former Windies captains Viv Richards and Richie Richardson accompanied Antigua to Bermuda in ?84.

?This will be like a reunion and a good experience,? Wade added. ?And hopefully we can go there and compete to the best of our ability.?

Former Bailey?s Bay and Somerset Cup Match batsman/wicketkeeper Ricky Hill is also among those in favour of the upcoming tour.

?I think this is a great opportunity for the older players and if selected I would be very happy to be involved,? said Hill, who scored a memorable 65 runs against Allan Border?s Australian Test team at Somerset Cricket Club in 1991.

?I think this is a great opportunity for some of the senior players who made way for the younger players to showcase their talents overseas.?