Bermuda Cricket Board and the Bank of Bermuda yesterday announced a major sponsorship package for the upcoming tour by the West Indies and Barbados to the Island.

The Windies, who are currently nearing the end of a disastrous four Test series against England, will arrive in Bermuda on August 29 for a seven-day training camp in preparation for the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy in the UK next month.

The local bank will underwrite the tour although at a press conference yesterday no financial details were divulged.

Brian Lara will continue to lead the visiting Test team, despite widespread calls for his head from the Caribbean following his side?s comprehensive drubbing at the hands of a rejuvenated English side.

Other household names such as vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, explosive opener Chris Gayle and talented allrounder Dwayne Bravo will also be making the trip.

BCB chief executive Neil Speight confirmed yesterday that the matches scheduled for Tuesday, August 31 between the West Indies and Barbados and for Thursday, September 2 between the Windies and Bermuda, would go ahead under the lights of the National Sports Centre.

Speight was responding to rumours that Board officials were concerned about the state of the wicket at the NSC following a busy international summer and were considering moving both games to Somerset Cricket Club.

The relatively new square at the Frog Lane facility was widely criticised during this seasons? Americas Championship and Intercontinental Cups, with one touring skipper describing the surfaces as ?totally unsuited to cricket at international level?.

?We have been assured by the Trustees that the wickets will be in good shape for the upcoming matches,? Speight said.

?Obviously we will continue to review the situation and if we have any further concerns we might have to consider moving the games. But I see no reason at the moment why the schedule cannot go ahead as planned.?

Meanwhile, all in Bermuda?s cricketing fraternity will remember the Barbados tour debacle last year, when hosts Somerset struggled to persuade the majority of Bermuda?s best players to turn out and play in the aftermath of Hurricane Fabian.

A series of embarrassing mismatches ensued, leading to fears that Barbados would not be making the trip again or send only a seriously weakened team in the future.

Speight is convinced, however, that this year will be entirely different and he urged the public to come out in large numbers to witness some ?spectacular cricket?.

?Obviously last year was difficult, particularly with the Causeway out of action after Fabian,? he said.

?But with the West Indies here, Barbados should be sending a strong team, with quite a few players who might feel they should be in the Champions Trophy squad and will want to prove a point.

?Also our national squad has been together as a unit all season and will be keen to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity against first class opposition.?

?But we are all really looking forward to what should be an incredibly exciting week,? he continued.

?This is the first time that a full ICC member nation has come to Bermuda for a training camp while the games between Barbados and the West Indies should provide some of the highest calibre cricket ever witnessed in Bermuda. I would strongly encourage all cricket loving Bermudians to come out and watch.?

Brian Lara (captain) Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice-captain) Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, Jermaine Lawson, Ian Bradshaw, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Sylvester Joseph, Courtney Browne, Ricardo Powell.

Sunday, August 29: Bermuda v Barbados, Somerset C.C. (11 a.m.)

Tuesday, August 31: West Indies v Barbados, National Sports Centre (3 p.m. Day/Night)

Thursday, September 2: West Indies v Bermuda, National Sports Centre (3 p.m. Day/Night)

Saturday, September 4: West Indies v Barbados, Somerset C.C. (11 a.m.)

Tuesday, September 7: Barbados v Somerset Select, Somerset C.C. (3 p.m. Day/Night)