Lara's agent insisted yesterday that the world's top batsman would appear in Bermuda later this year.

Earlier reports that Lara might play for a Bermuda Select while on the Island had been scoffed at by Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president Ed Bailey.

But Trinidadian businessman Miguel DeFour, who is Chief Executive Officer of Antonio's Import and Export Company which he claims has exclusive rights to market Lara's name in the Caribbean region, said yesterday such a plan was still very much alive.

DeFour yesterday faxed a three page copy of the agreement between his company and the West Indies star batsman to The Royal Gazette to verify that he has the exclusive rights in the Caribbean region to "utilise, exhibit, manufacture and distribute merchandise'' such as tee shirts and caps bearing images of Lara.

The agreement was signed on March 16, 1995, between a company acting on behalf of Lara called SWF and Associates and Antonio's Import/Export Company Ltd.

Part of the agreement read: "The manufacture and distribution of the Brian Lara jerseys and caps using the name of and/or the photograph or likeness of Brian Lara may be sold by Antonio's Import/Export Company Ltd only within the Caribbean region, namely Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Antigua, St. Vincent, Jamaica, Bermuda, St. Lucia, St. Kitts/Nevis and Grenada.'' DeFour was in Bermuda recently for two weeks to promote Lara merchandise, after which a report ran in The Mid Ocean News stating there was a possibility that Lara could play in a Bermuda team against the touring Jamaicans in September.

But "there's no substance to it,'' came the reply from BCBC chief Bailey in a Royal Gazette article last week, though he did not rule out the possibility of Lara coming to Bermuda to promote his merchandise which also includes bats.

DeFour only returned to Trinidad on the weekend and was faxed a copy of the Royal Gazette article in which Bailey was quoted as saying ".. .and we don't treat anything serious like that when someone just turns up at our doorstep making wild prosposals.'' That was in reference to DeFour's claim that Lara might be available to play while in Bermuda.

DeFour, however, stands by that statement, noting that the player, who is presently in England with the West Indies Test team, would be coming here to promote his merchandise and might be able to make an appearance on the field.

"I was in Bermuda for two weeks and showed Mr. Bailey documents where I have the rights to sell Brian Lara tee shirts and caps in Bermuda,'' said DeFour.

As for Lara playing in Bermuda, DeFour said there was still a possibility of that happening.

"He said he couldn't commit himself,'' said DeFour.

"I spoke to Brian last night and read out the article to him and he was not pleased at all.

"We have to change the image of the whole story or abort the project. He (Bailey) tarnished my image in the article.'' Brian Lara