Fiji, veteran Bermuda cricketer Noel Gibbons will instead fly to attend a funeral in India this weekend.

Skipper Gibbons and his select squad were rocked last week on the eve of the tour departure when Ramesh Nanaagetre, one of three tour managers for the team, suffered a massive heart attack in England and died.

His death has forced the tour to be postponed until July 28 and now several members and tour officials will travel to India to attend the funeral.

Gibbons, the former Bermuda national team and Bailey's Bay all-rounder, said that everybody was looking forward to the tour which would have seen them playing 12 matches in the three countries over a three week period.

However, Gibbons noted that since the manager was instrumental in making virtually all of the tour arrangements after having visited each country over the past few months there was no way it could have gone on at this time.

Gibbons was looking forward to the tour after being made captain once again.

It marks the second time he has been given the opportunity to lead the squad in four world tours.

The squad consists of three players who were recently in the West Indies Test side, openers Philo Wallace and Clayton Lambert and medium pace bowler Otis Gibson, while another player with previous Test experience, Eldine Baptiste, is also included.

"It's a good squad with several players having just come off Test duty; there are also a few South African, Pakistani and Indian players included,'' said Gibbons.

A player-coach with Wycombe House of the Middlesex Championship League where talented players like current West Indies Test vice-captain Jimmy Adams and former fast bowler Ian Bishop play, Gibbons says that he is enjoying his cricket in England.

Wycombe are the reigning league champions and are currently holding down third place after a decent start to their season.

"Unlike at home when you become a outcast upon reaching 40, out here you are respected for your ability and experience. It's amazing to experience such warmth from the fans, it reminds you that it's nice to be wanted,'' he said.

Gibbons still feels he was scorned by both St. George's Cup Match side and his club Bailey's Bay who denied him the privilege of representing them in a few league games at the start of the season after announcing his retirement from the Eastern Counties a year ago.