the West Indies was confirmed yesterday by the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president Ed Bailey.

It marks the second time in two years that world one-day champions will have made a visit to Bermuda following a tour of the Caribbean -- Australia being the other in 1991.

Pakistan contained one of the most feared fast bowling attacks in world cricket, spearheaded by new captain Wasim Akram. Waqar Younis, whose meteoric rise was slowed by a back injury that forced him to miss the team's World Cup triumph last year, has been a menace throughout the recent World Series Cup and the current Total International Series held in South Africa.

However, the duo's presence here is uncertain as they have county contracts in England as does wrist spinner Mushtaq Ahmed.

Nevertheless, a Pakistan team minus those three will be formidable as it will include former skipper Javed Miandad and promising but temperamental fast bowler Aaqib Javed.

Bailey received a fax from Shahid Rafi, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan, yesterday confirming its acceptance of the proposals for the four-day trip.

They will arrive in Bermuda on Friday, May 7 -- just a day after the last day of the final Test in Antigua -- and will play limited overs matches against the Bermuda team on the Saturday and Sunday. There is a rest day on the Monday before the team departs on the Tuesday.

"I got a fax this morning and I was very pleased to see that,'' said Bailey.

"Now the board is pleased that all the plans are confirmed and the full programme is now in place for the players to take advantage of.'' English county team Derbyshire and the West Indies `A' team are confirmed for six-match tours in March and June, making this summer one of the busiest on the local cricket scene. A squad will also travel to Barbados next month for 10 days, which includes five matches and five days of training.

"The idea is to have the national team play as many first-class games together as possible so they can go from strength to strength,'' said Bailey.

WASIM AKRAM WAQAR YOUNIS.