The new cricket season is tentatively scheduled to start during the first weekend of May.

But confirming a date for the season-opening games ranks some way behind Bermuda Cricket Board of Control's attempt to get club affiliates to formally accept changes to the league format, according to president El James.

The Board are hopeful that at a special general meeting -- on a date yet to be decided -- full approval will be given to a move which will see open cricket scrapped in preference to limited overs only.

Also on the table is the proposal of a single senior league, involving anywhere from 14 to 16 teams.

"We are so excited about the prospects that lie ahead of us in cricket, but we want to proceed carefully and do everything as correctly as possible to ensure that whatever changes are implemented will benefit the game all around,'' said James, who was re-elected BCBC president last week.

"We must have a special meeting with the affiliates to get their support for what we have planned. So far we have received positive verbal support from people but who knows how the clubs will respond when we meet with them?'' James has long supported a move away from open play back to limited overs, associating himself with the views of many that it is vital for the overall development of the sport.

"I can give you several reasons why we are aiming to revert back to that format. One is that we found that our players were not adapting well to the open format, another is that it was killing spectator interest and as a consequence people were finding it boring,'' added James.

But he hinted that open cricket could be simply placed on the back burner and not forgotten completely.

James said if the Board's progress in reorganising the sport was to continue, then a single limited overs league seemed to be the right move.

"We may have to look at the open format again, that is, if we are to do the development that we intend to do ... but for now I think we are serving a purpose by concentrating on limited overs because all of our international tournaments are of that format.

"If we are going to develop into a first class cricketing nation then down the road we are going to have to review this pretty quickly as we make progress and go into playing two- and three-day matches or whatever.'' Meanwhile, the make-up of the board has changed following the election of officers last week, the most significant new face being that of James' fellow Government MP Randy Horton who was elected vice-president.

Three former executives were re-elected to new posts. Charlotte Simons is the new secretary, Reginald Outerbridge the assistant secretary and Gladstone Brown treasurer.

Simons formerly held the position of assistant secretary, Outerbridge was previously the secretary and Brown the former vice-president.

Club representatives are John Tucker, Gregory Foggo, Delby Borden, Allan Douglas and Dennis Wainwright.