The visit by the Leeward Islands team next month is in jeopardy, with Bermuda Cricket Board of Control executives meeting tonight to decide whether a shortened tour will be accepted.

The original dates, September 13-23, when five matches were planned, will clash with both a West Indies A team tour of Zimbabwe and the West Indies Cricket Board's Commemorative Banquet in Jamaica, when past Test players will be honoured.

BCBC president Ed Bailey is among those being recognised for contributions to cricket in the region and with the current Test players being special guests at the September 18 event, it will mean the Leeward Islands will not have their best players available for the Bermuda trip.

Still, Bailey is confident the tour will go ahead, probably during the new proposed dates of September 11-16 and with just three matches being played.

"The board never lost hope but they (Leeward Islands) indicated as far back as Cup match that they foresaw problems getting the original team that they anticipated,'' explained Bailey.

"It (tour) was conflicting with so many other things, like the Zimbabwe tour, the Commemorate Banquet and the Shell/Sandals situation. I feel the board is likely to say `let's go ahead with the tour from the 11th to 16th, even if it's three matches against our national team.'' The BCBC saw this incoming tour as crucial in the buildup to the Shell/Sandals Tournament in which Bermuda is participating for the first time. A squad of 14 will be announced soon and will leave on September 28 for Guyana where they will be involved in group matches with Guyana, Windward Islands and Barbados.

Bailey will travel to Guyana this weekend to assess the facilities before finalising the management team which will accompany the national squad.

The BCBC is clearly taking the Shell/Sandals campaign very seriously and for that reason the visit by one of the West Indies' Red Stripe teams was eagerly anticipated.

"This tour gives the guys something to work towards,'' said Bailey. "I wouldn't like to see fellas lose form in September so if they come and play two matches on the 14th and 15th against the national team then at least they would have some good competition.

"To me it's worth making that investment. It's a very sensible and very prudent thing to do. We will endeavour to do our best to go ahead with the tour.'' Former Australia coach Bob Simpson has been hired by the BCBC to work with national coach Allan Douglas in preparing the team.

In fact he has agreed to arrive a week early so as to see the final matches against the Leeward Islands, though the new dates could jepardise that.

Simpson will travel with the team to the Shell/Sandals.

"We're stepping it up, it's two days a week now and when Bobby Simpson comes it could be every day,'' said Douglas, who said he is looking forward to working with one of the best coaches in the world.

"It should be wonderful for Bermuda cricket and I should benefit tremendously from it because I'll be right there with him.'' In training, Bermuda batsmen will be facing the bowlers, and a bowling machine, from 18 yards instead of the usual 22 in a bid to adjust to the pace they can expect to encounter in Guyana.