Bermuda Cricket Board of Control have announced the formation of a new Tours Committee.

It will be chaired by Ellsworth Christopher, a long-serving cricket administrator and club executive who was also recently elected second vice-president of the BCBC.

El James, president of the Board, said that creating the committee had become a necessity because of the increased activity planned in the season ahead.

And he said the Board were blessed to have somebody with Christopher's wealth of experience to take charge.

"It's something that will benefit the whole programme,'' said James. "Now we have a group who can concentrate mainly on the tours while others can focus on the many additional matters pertaining to cricket.

"We've always recognised and want the public to realise that there is a lot of work involved running cricket, a lot of planning goes into everything and to have a committee designed specifically for tours is a step to ensure that everything works out well.'' The first tour of the 2001 calendar will be a major one from May 17-27 when Bermuda play host to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

Their visit is primarily aimed at preparing Bermuda's senior national squad for the ICC Trophy in Canada, starting at the end of June.

MCC will play a total of seven games although the Board have still to finalise their opponents. However, it is likely that at least four games will be against the senior national squad.

The visitors will be headed by former Pakistan Test leg break bowler Abdul Qadir and former West Indies batsman Philo Wallace while former Australia and Queensland skipper Allan Border remains a possible tour member.

Bermuda's main focus this season will be the ICC tournament which takes place in Toronto, Canada from June 25-July 15 and this will be followed by the inaugural Under-19 Americas Regional Tournament to be held in Bermuda from August 5-12.

Teams featured in that tournament in addition to Bermuda are the United States, Canada, Argentina, Cayman and a combined squad involving players from Bahamas, Belize and Panama.