emerge from the Caribbean since Sir Garfield Sobers, will not be playing in Bermuda this year as had been forecast in several recent reports.

Ed Bailey, president of the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control (BCBC), on Friday shed the unwelcome news to a group of youngsters during a summer youth cricket clinic prize presentation at Western Stars Sports Club and yesterday confirmed it to The Royal Gazette .

However, while disappointed at being unable to secure the Trinidadian Test great for this year, Bailey was optimistic regarding the possibility of a 1996 visit by the man who has delighted audiences the world over with his genius at the crease and in the field as well as his congenial personality outside of it.

Bailey explained how last month while in England he had engaged in talks with David Manasseh, agent for Lara and West Indies team-mate Jimmy Adams of Jamaica, with regard to having either or both come to the Island but was unable to work out suitable logistics.

"It stems from back earlier this summer, we (BCBC) were trying to get him or Adams as they have the same agent. From the Lara point of view, when I went to England and met with his agent I was told that arrangements have to be made almost a year in advance. Lara was already committed to Hong Kong and Australia,'' said Bailey, downplaying any talk to the contrary by Miguel DeFour, the Trinidadian businessman claiming to be Lara's agent and who, in June, insisted the visit remained on the cards.

"It's the same thing with Jimmy,'' added Bailey. "He was hot to trot, but he has to go to the hospital for an (knee) operation on September 11.

"Still, Jimmy was prepared to come here on the eighth, play on the ninth and leave the next day, but we felt that one day was not sufficient and had to turn it down.'' The pair ideally were wanted for the period from September 8 to 18 to coincide with a planned tour by the Jamaican national team, with the plan being for Lara to be included in a Bermuda Select -- Adams would have likely played for his homeland.

In addition plans were for Lara to take out time to visit some of the Island's schools and talk to youngsters.

"He's (Lara) in such great demand and to his credit he really made every effort while I was in England to see if he could find a space in his schedule,'' added Bailey. "He was calling around all over and participating in the meetings, but it could not be done.

"It's disappointing, because to have had Lara would have been great for the public and for the players, especially those in the youth squad who could have had the chance of a lifetime to play with a Brian Lara.

"Hopefully these dreams can yet be realised next year and we will be looking for any window of opportunity where he can break from his contract.'' Like this year, 1996 shapes up as a busy one for the 26-year-old with West Indies involved in the World Cup in February and March and then for a home series against New Zealand before the player is due to return for county duty at Warwickshire.

Bailey was not so revealing in terms of the cost of `importing' the talent, but said that he was still in search of additional sponsors which he said would provide "the bargaining power we need''.

MAYBE NEXT YEAR -- Test great Brian Lara, shown here being embraced by team-mate Sherwin Campbell after gaining a century on Saturday, made every effort to fit Bermuda into his schedule this year.