Bermuda?s national cricketers will be presented with the opportunity of a lifetime at the end of August when they will take to the field against the West Indies on local soil.

Bermuda Cricket Board announced yesterday that after ?smooth negotiations? with their counterparts in the Caribbean which lasted several months, the full West Indies squad would be coming to the Island shortly after the conclusion of their Test match series against England and have agreed in principle to play limited overs cricket against Bermuda.

Anxious to keep the squad together during a brief break inbetween international engagements, the West Indies management have agreed that Brian Lara and company will fly to the Island on August 24 for a specially arranged training camp in preparation for the Champions Trophy which gets underway back in England at the beginning of September.

They will also participate in a number of youth clinics and exhibition games ? and there?s the mouth-watering prospect of a clash with Caribbean powerhouses Barbados, who will be touring the Island at the same time thanks to the ongoing efforts of Somerset Cricket Club.

?We have been in constant communication with the West Indies Cricket Board since last September over this tour,? Board treasurer Neil Speight said yesterday.

?The management of their team is very keen to keep the whole squad together before the Champions Trophy and they see Bermuda as an ideal place to come to train and recuperate after what will be a very demanding series of Test matches in England.?

And although he revealed that the exact itinerary had yet to be finalised, Speight said that he was hoping that the Windies team would agree to play up to five matches while on the Island.

He revealed also that they had agreed to make players available to host several ?skills camps? for the benefit of Bermuda?s youth cricket programme.

?Several of the West Indies players like Lara, Fidel Edwards and Omari Banks were in Bermuda as early as last year and enjoyed the experience immensely,? he said.

?Many of them will be helping us run a variety of events to boost our youth programme and it can only be good for Bermuda cricket that we will have two quality teams in the shape of the West Indies and Barbados on the Island at the same time.?

Speight did admit, however, that the cost of bringing in the West Indies would involve a ?big number? but added that he would be aggressively seeking sponsorship from Government and the corporate sector for what he described as a ?tremendously exciting opportunity for Bermuda and Bermudian cricket.?

?We are certainly under no illusions as to the high cost of this venture,? he said.

?But over the next few weeks I will be going out and lobbying hard for the money we need. The tour of the West Indies will be a terrifically high-profile event, with enormous benefits on offer to the sport and the Island in general and I would urge the corporate sector in particular to get on board with us.?

Board president Reggie Pearman meanwhile expressed his ?delight? that the tour was going ahead after a long dialogue with the West Indies Cricket Board.

?We are very excited at the prospect of hosting the senior West Indies squad,? he said.

?It has been quite a while since we have had a team of Test match calibre here in Bermuda and many cricketers can only dream about lining up against such quality opposition. I only hope that the national team players will embrace this fantastic chance to challenge themselves against some of the world?s best.?