Veteran Bermuda cricketer Noel Gibbons has been asked to captain a World Select squad on tour of the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Zimbabwe in May.

Gibbons, who has toured with the squad as a player since 1994, was promoted to the position of vice-captain last year, under former West Indies Test player Alvin Kallacharran who skippered the team.

But with business commitments preventing Kallacharran from travelling this time around, Gibbons has been put in charge of the squad.

"I just got the news this week and accepted the challenge without any reservations at all. It is an honour to have been considered for the post,'' said Gibbons, who has been training regularly with his local club side Bailey's Bay.

The tour will take in 19 matches, starting with 10 in the UAE, five in South Africa and four in Zimbabwe. The squad will be in South Africa for 12 days and in Zimbabwe for a week.

When the tour concludes in Zimbabwe, Gibbons and some of the other players will remain behind to participate in a two-week, advanced coaching course which could qualify them as full senior coaches.

Gibbons says he is particularly looking forward to the course as his ambition is to eventually coach locally at the national team level.

The full make-up of the world squad has yet to be decided, but it is reported that it will consist of players from England (4), West Indies (3), Australia (2), India (4), Pakistan (2) and South Africa (2).

Gibbons first toured with the team in '94 when they visited India and Pakistan. Two years later they toured Singapore, Hong Kong, Fiji and Australia and followed up last year with a whirlwind tour of Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia.