BERMUDA are going to have to come flying out of the blocks at this summer's International Cricket Council (ICC) Trophy tournament after it was announced yesterday that they have been drawn to face hosts Ireland in the opening match at Stormont on July 1.

The last time Bermuda faced Ireland was at the 2001 tournament in Canada. Then the island's cricketers were humbled when Ireland won by eight wickets. Bermuda scored 115 off 46 overs while Ireland replied with 118 for two off 29.3 overs.

Neil Speight, the chief executive of the Bermuda Cricket Board, said yesterday: "Ireland will be a tough test to start the tournament off with ? they will definitely be one of the strongest sides in the tournament and they are also playing at home. But we knew we had to play them at some time."

The other countries in Bermuda's group are Uganda, United Arab Emirates, the USA and Denmark.

This year's tournament will have five spots up for grabs for the 2007 World Cup to be staged in the West Indies. A total of 42 matches will be held at a record 25 venues across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with the final at Clontarf, near Dublin, on July 13.

Mr. Speight also revealed yesterday that the BCB, in conjunction with the Irish authorities and a travel agent in Bermuda, are trying to arrange packages for local supporters to go to Ireland and support Bermuda's team.

He said: "We are working on trying to get a supporters' package. We are working with the Irish Cricket Union, the ICC and travel agents to find out what what hotels are available and the airline choices.

"We hope to announce something soon about an easy way for Bermudians to go and support the country. Bermudians will certainly have a good time over there ? they have a good time anywhere they go!

"I have spoken to a lot of people here who are interested in going and we hope to get as much support over there for the team as possible."

Mr. Speight said of Bermuda's group: "Ireland will be one of the strongest sides. They won the European regional tournament this year and so they will feel very comfortable at home. There are no easy games in the group but we feel there are no games we cannot win either."

Bermuda also face Denmark ? another foe from the 2001 tournament in Toronto. Then Bermuda won by just two runs.

"I think we will be very well prepared. We have been following a plan since last October with a lot of the initial work obviously being on fitness. We are starting to build up so that the guys will be able to play all the way through the tournament at a high level ? we want to be as strong in the last game and we are in the first."

Also Bermuda will be playing a lot more cricket as the tournament approaches.

"We want the right balance. Part of that build-up is increasing the amount of cricket the guys will be playing. We will be going to Trinidad on April 5, then some games back in Bermuda and also some games in England and Ireland right before the tournament begins. We want to come out hard and fast for the first game against Ireland.

"We will be having five games in seven days in the opening round ? that is pretty intense. In past tournaments other countries have found that they couldn't pick their best team in the third or fourth game because there were niggling injuries. You also have the travel days which can be tiring in themselves ? you are on a bus and then checking into hotels. All of that can be tiring."

And it may not only be Bermuda's cricketers who will be performing in Ireland.

Mr. Speight said: "We had a Bermuda umpire, Roger Dill, selected to go Malaysia last month for a tournament there. He got to officiate in the final and that is no mean achievement. We are now keeping our fingers crossed that his performance there will qualify him to be one of the umpires in Ireland.

The other opening group stage in Ireland will feature teams from Scotland, Holland, Papua New Guinea, Namibia, Oman and Canada. After each group participate in round-robin ties, they will then all feature in two knockout matches to determine final placings.