United States is set to be resurrected this August, it has been revealed.

The tournament will be played in Toronto from August 5-12, the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control said yesterday.

The event, played for the Sir Henry Tucker Trophy, was a prominent feature on the cricket calendar during the 1970s but has been dormant for several years.

Canada and Bermuda have worked to have it revived, but there still remains a question mark about the US's participation this year.

There is hope though that the States will be able to form a national squad within the required period.

The senior competition -- and another junior tournament to follow -- have been worked on since Bermuda's junior squad toured Toronto last summer.

It was then when BCBC president El James and the recently elected vice-president Randy Horton met with Canadian Cricket Board president Dr Jeff Edwards to begin talks about re-establishing close ties between the countries at both levels.

An ecstatic James said: "We are happy about the news -- as should be all of Bermuda, especially the senior and youth players. While the senior dates are confirmed we are anxiously looking forward to the announcement of the dates for the youth tournament.'' The announcement of the Triangular Tournament means that James and his new Board have followed through on the recommendations made by a committee chaired by Jim Woolridge three years ago when their report urged that steps be taken to run the tournament again.

"The US will eventually be involved, if not this year hopefully by the next year. But the important thing is that we are able to get our players back into another international competition. This one could be used as a warm-up for the Red Stripe Bowl in the West Indies later this year,'' said James.

"But there are additional developments that excite us, one being the soon to be formed Regional Tournament that the Canadians and ourselves have recommended to take place. The ICC Regional Development Director, John Sheppard, has taken the idea to ICC and they have said that it looks good and we expect this to be confirmed for next summer and to involve the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Belize and maybe the Bahamas.'' This means that Bermuda will have a full international cricket schedule for the year 2000, but this year's plans show there is a busy time ahead.

And with the ICC tournament scheduled for the year 2001 it is hoped that Bermuda will be ready to offer a spirited challenge. By then some of the current players in the Under-16 squad should be ready to progress to the senior team.

"The benefit from such tournaments is that we get to see our players perform at a high level, we get the opportunity to gauge their development and progress against top competition and we can also gauge our developmental programme to see how well it is working.

"You think you are good in your country but when you play against foreign teams you are made aware that more work needs to be done on your game to enable you to play at the higher level on a consistent basis.

"You must look at the global picture.''