The 20-20 World Cricket Classic was a hugely impressive spectacle, Sports Minister Dale Butler said yesterday ? but he was unable to guarantee that Government would support it in years to come.

Classic organiser and former Essex allrounder Keith Pont told yesterday that bearing in mind the $3 million cost, it was unlikely the event could continue without Government backing and also the participation of a title sponsor.

In response, Butler said that while Government was hopeful the Classic would ultimately become a regular fixture on the Island?s sporting calendar, only by the end of detailed meetings and once financial reports are completed over the next few months would he be able to say for certain if this would be possible.

Government gave the Classic $1m in June of last year ? a decision which met with considerable disapproval at the time, with some questioning why that money had not been put towards Bermuda?s World Cup qualifying campaign at the ICC Trophy in Ireland.

?Overall everyone was delighted with the organisation of the tournament,? Butler said.

?There were a few minor issues which were there which is hardly surprising in the first year of an event of that magnitude but in general everything ran smoothly and I was extremely pleased that Bermuda got to the final.

?In an ideal world we would be very happy to have it back next year, but there are many different people we have to consult before a decision is made. First we have to sit down with the organisers from the Get Fit Foundation and talk about the event as a whole, from the organisation to the final finances.

?We have also got to bear in mind that the World Cup next year and we have to consult with the Bermuda Cricket Board over whether the players might be in a fit state to play in the tournament after their exertions in the Caribbean or whether it would mean just too much cricket.

?We also have to look at it from a tourism perspective because the GEFF group promised us a certain number of visitors and we have to look at whether they met those pledges and if the potential is there to attract more.

?We know from the players? perspective that everything is very positive because they were very complimentary about the whole thing and were practically begging us to make sure it will carry on.

?So it is not a simple question and it is going to take us time to garner all the relevant information and then come to a decision which is in the best interests of all concerned.?

Pont, meanwhile, was similarly realistic over the tournament?s future prospects.

?There is no doubt we need a title sponsor,? he said, sitting on the balcony of the cricket pavilion at the National Sports Centre watching the Classic?s infrastructure being dismantled.

?The Government have been enormously helpful and I cannot speak highly enough of the role of the Premier and Dale Butler in helping us get this on.

?But what we all knew coming into this year was that the pressure was on to put on a good show, because once potential sponsors had a chance to see what we were about, then they might be more inclined to assist us.

?This is not something we can let drift. Within the next six to eight weeks we will sit down with Government to go over the whole picture and then decisions will have to be made.?