Three lucky charities were given tickets for the Cricket World Cup yesterday to celebrate an insurance group becoming the national team’s official travel insurer. The tickets will be auctioned off by the charities as a fundraising effort.

BF&M gave the Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association (LCCA), the Women’s Resource Centre and the Family Centre four tickets each for Bermuda’s games in Trinidad in March.

Members of the national cricket team and the Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) gathered with representatives of the charities yesterday to hear the announcement by the company’s president and chief executive officer John Wight.

Mr. Wight said: “As a result of hard work and diligence, the Bermuda Cricket Board’s Senior National Men’s Team will compete for the first time at the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup.

“BF&M is immensely proud of their achievement and is pleased to become one of the local companies to help support our cricketers.”

Gary Phillips and Veronica Harvey of the LCCA accepted tickets to the Bermuda vs. Sri Lanka match on March 15.

Tickets for the Bermuda vs. India match on March 19 were given to Penny Dill of The Women’s Resource Centre. And Liz Ward and Martha Dismont of the Family Centre accepted tickets to the Bermuda vs. Bangladesh match on March 25. “This is a win, win situation for all involved,” Mr. Wight said. “The Bermuda National Men’s Cricket Team receives support for their first appearance at the ICC Cricket World Cup, charities receive an opportunity to raise funds and sporting fans get the chance to obtain tickets to cheer on our boys while helping worthwhile charities.”

Neil Speight, chief executive of the BCB, said: “This is a big plus and we are happy to help three worthy charities.”’

National team members in attendance were Dean Minors, captain Irving Romaine, Stefan Kelly and Malachi Jones.

[box] As well as the donations, BF&M will hold a draw for a trip for two to the ICC Cricket World Cup final in Barbados on April 28 for their customers. The prize includes air, hotel and accommodation. People who want to enter need to activate their BF&M online account at www.bfm.bm by February 16.