country's ICC Trophy Tournament plans by naming a coaching committee, which will be chaired by vice-president Reginald Pearman.

The other members of the three-man committee are Gary Fray and Gladstone Brown and they are to be assisted by a pool of former elite players who have come forward and offered their help as Bermuda's preparations for Kenya early next year step up.

The ex-players who have agreed to lend their help to the squad of 30 who are presently in full training for the prestigious tournament include Colin Blades, Lionel Thomas, Winston (Coe) Trott and Shiraz Ali.

The coaching committee and assistants are scheduled to meet with the squad for the first time on Monday night at which time several new developments concerning the ICC tournament will also be announced.

"We have decided to select a coaching committee simply because the board felt that one was needed at this time,'' said Pearman.

He added that while the board's priority at the moment would be centred on the ICC tournament, the coaching committee and the assistants have been assembled to meet with the increasing demands of the overall cricket programme.

"The committee has actually been set up to deal with our entire cricket programme. We are thrilled to have a number of ex-players come forward and offer their help,'' said Pearman.

"It's particularly pleasing to see them wanting to put something back into the sport, and it's good that they see fit to offer something to the board other than criticism. We are indeed grateful to have them respond in a positive manner.'' Until the squad has held its initial meeting with the new committee the board was unwilling to reveal any new plans that it has in store. Nor is the BCBC able to disclose the "new developments'' that have arisen concerning the competition that the players have to be notified of.

One thing for certain, though, is that the board has not yet finalised plans to bring in a foreign coach to assist the team in the build-up for Kenya.

"The possibility of bringing a coach in for this reason is still being pursued,'' said Pearman.

But he was quick to rule out recent reports that former West Indies Test skipper Rohan Kanhai was a candidate for the post. He said that Kanhai's name was only suggested while board officials were attending an ICC meeting in England this summer and he will not be available because he is the current team manager of the West Indies Test team.

It has been reported that the board is prepared to offer a prominent qualified coach a salary of $25,000 and work with the squad until they depart for Kenya.

Just two weeks ago, board president Ed Bailey said: "Our dilemma is finding someone top notch, who also has the time to come here for four months.'' But it is clear that the board is forced to carefully calculate its plans since the ICC venture is going to be extremely expensive with the trip to Kenya expected to cost in excess of $100,000.

Meanwhile, there is no further news of the board's intention to send the Bermuda team to Barbados for training. Original plans called for the team to leave in November, but word is that it could be put back until January.