How could Government give a million dollars to the inaugural 20Twenty World Cricket Classic while the national cricket team have had to cut and contrive their way to the ICC Trophy in Ireland?

That?s the question which a cross-section of the cricketing fraternity as well as shadow minister of sport Jon Brunson are asking.

However, Sport Minister Dale Butler has defended Government?s decision to significantly underwrite the cricketing spectacle ? featuring more than 90 of the game?s former top players ? arguing that Bermuda stands to benefit greatly.

?That particular venture has the potential to generate a large profit which would benefit sport. We did due diligence by checking with the BCB (Bermuda Cricket Board) who had no objections. Once the BCB was on board then Government had no problem with it. The key ingredient was the BCB?s support and we got that,? stated the minister.

Asked to outline just how the country would prosper from the Classic which is being brought to the Island by Get Fit Foundation (GEFF) of the UK, Butler replied that the television rights plus the tournament?s projected long-term growth bode well for Bermuda.

?We?re expecting a minimum 1,000 tourists will come this year and more in the future,? he said.

In addition, he highlighted GEFF?s emphasis on physical fitness and the fact that several health-oriented clinics will be put on to coincide with matches as a major positive.

However, his opposite number Brunson has severe reservations about Government?s decision-making, considering it only allocated $130,000 for the national team?s ICC Trophy preparations despite the BCB?s request for $264,000 specifically for the campaign.

?I?m not concerned about the 20-Twenty World Cricket Classic being held here. I think it is a good thing and that Bermuda and our cricket can reap a lot of benefits from hosting that type of event,? said Brunson.

?They have allocated a million dollars to host this event of which $750,000 is a cash endowment and $250,000 will be through services and sundry items. I don?t have a problem with that either.

?Where I have a problem is that we have our national cricket team ? which is right in heart of its ICC World Cup qualifying matches ? and they have been struggling to find funding to allow them to train, prepare and hire the right resources to get them to the ICC Trophy.

?It just seems to me that the priority of the Government should be on enhancing our national team first, especially when we have a lot to gain as a country.?

Noting that qualifying for the 2007 Cricket World Cup ? if Bermuda finish in the top five in Ireland ? would ?catapult Bermuda?s cricket to the next level?, Brunson termed it ?disappointing that this event seemed to have got preference over our national sport?.

?They could make a snap decision to spend a million dollars but they show angst over funding for (our team to prepare for) the ICC Trophy,? he continued.

Reiterating what he and other BCB officials said earlier this year, chief executive Neil Speight acknowledged that, while ?grateful? for Government?s input, they had been forced to seek corporate benevolence and to operate on a limited scale because of financial constraints. As such, the BCB had to shelve certain plans for the national squad?s training programme. Even if the BCB had received the full $264,000, Speight added, that would only have afforded the national squad a modest programme.

Brunson also queried the wisdom of scheduling the Classic next May given that construction of the National Sports Centre?s (NSC) long-awaited Centre Core is due to begin this fall.

?If they start (construction) and we host the Cricket Classic next May, there?s obviously going to be a conflict at the North Field with matches and construction at the same time. I?m not sure it has been thought through how they are going to manage that situation.

?This to me is, yet again, another example of Government not demonstrating that they have a clear vision for sport and where we are going. I just get a sense that the right hand doesn?t know what the left hand is doing.?

Butler maintained, though, that the country and cricket here stand to profit handsomely and that Government was proceeding on that basis.

?It?s Government?s opinion that this activity is a good thing and is in keeping with cricket as a national sport.

?They (GEFF) will lay the groundwork and we (GEFF and the Government) both feel confident that it will be successful. Based on the post mortem we?re hoping that we will be able to go forward into the future. Obviously if the post mortem comes back showing that we miscalculated then we would have to examine it but they feel very confident ? the same way Christopher Columbus felt confident that he would discover land.?