BERMUDA'S Sports Minister El James said he had high hopes that cricket fans will be able to see their national team in action on local soil for the first time in four years when Bermuda are scheduled to host Scotland in a four-day Intercontinental match in July.

Bermuda have not been able to host a match since getting One Day International status after qualifying for the 2007 World Cup and it has been a bone of contention for fans, players and national coach Gus Logie. The problem has been that the soil at the National Sports Centre has been deemed not suitable for a wicket.

But James said yesterday: "I was up at the National Stadium yesterday and I think we have a tentative commitment based on an inspection that is going to take place (by the ICC) in the next few months. If we are found to be ready then we should host our first match in July against Scotland and I have some of the best experts in Bermuda telling me that they can get the wicket ready and it will be ready for the four-day match in July so I am taking them at their word.

"The experts told me that with a roller, some sunshine and a little water and manpower they will have that wicket performing at a level that will make us proud."

James, who also hit out at the local media for criticisms made about Bermuda's national teams, said that the ICC had also given "little credence to the media when determining their annual Development Programme Awards".

The ICC awarded Bermuda for having the Best Overall Cricket Development Programme in 2007 of any country in the world as well as the Best Photo taken by islandstats.com as well as a third prize given for the Best Spirit of Cricket Award in partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF. However when asked how he felt about the ICC's decision this week to reduce, by two, the number of Associate Members in the next World Cup, James said: "I would say that with the development that is going to take place it is going to pay the dividends in the future. It is going to be hard to gain qualification for the next World Cup but I think with the development programme (Bermuda has) qualification in the future looks very promising.

"It (the ICC's decision) means two less Associates (in the next World Cup) but if we can prove ¿ as we have already done ¿ that a little country like Bermuda can put together a programme that is the envy of the world then we can also convince them that the Associates can perform at that level in the future."

Bermuda Cricket Board president Reggie Pearman said that with the awards, the ICC has given Bermuda "a historic achievement". He added: "We now know that our Development Programme is the best in the world."