Bermudian Michael Glasford has been appointed manager of the Americas Select cricket squad which will be heading to the Youth World Cup in Sri Lanka next month.

Glasford, office administrator for Bermuda Cricket Board of Control, was recognised after his meticulous scoring during the Sharja Cup in Toronto this summer and subsequently offered the assignment to head the Select squad which will include four Bermuda players -- Stevie Outerbridge, Chris Foggo, Oliver Pitcher and Landro Minors.

The Americas team will also include players from Canada, United States and Argentina.

Glasford, who only took up his appointment as BCBC administrator during the summer, said he was delighted to have been chosen and was looking forward to the trip.

"It's an honour to have been selected manager and I know that it is also going to be a considerable experience for me,'' said Glasford.

"But I wasn't all that surprised to get the invitation, especially since I had a good rapport with the Canadian team and their officials in the summer -- during the senior tour of Toronto by Bermuda, during the tour of Bermuda by the Canadian under-19 team and during the Sharja Cup triangular tournament.

"But I was still thrilled to hear the news. One of the Canadian officials, who is instrumental in organising the trip to Sri Lanka, was well aware of my organising capabilities from what he saw this summer and obviously helped to contribute towards the choice.'' It's the second foreign assignment for Glasford, the first being in August when he was asked to act as scorekeeper during the Sharja Cup series that featured Test nations the West Indies, Pakistan and India.

After managing the Bermuda team during their tour, Glasford returned to watch the Cup matches but was then invited to score.

"They knew that I scored during the Bermuda tour and when the female scorekeeper for the game between the West Indies and Pakistan was not available after being involved in an accident they announced for me to report to the cricket booth and to my surprise I was asked to score and I accepted,'' he said. That was during the final stages of the competition and Glasford went on to score two matches featuring the same two sides after India had been knocked out.

Glasford has long been recognised as one of the top local scorekeepers. He recalls having been involved during the mid 1960s when he was asked to fill in at Devonshire Rec. after arriving at the ground to watch a match against Southampton Rangers.

Since then he has scored for Social Club and during many tour matches on the Island. And for a long time he assisted the BCBC by carrying out volunteer office work.

His involvement with the Americas team will be a one-off appearance as the countries in the region will meet in a play-off before the next World Cup with the winners earning a trip to the finals.

El James, president of the BCBC, said he was thrilled with Glasford's appointment.

"We are certainly supportive of this, we wouldn't deprive anybody of an opportunity of a lifetime. It's just fascinating to have somebody from a small country like ours recognised to play a role this significant.

"When it comes to scoring he is very meticulous and very detailed-orientated, something which others obviously noted when he scored in Toronto this summer.

Indeed it is quite a feat and a big plus for Bermuda cricket to have somebody gain this sort of recognition,'' said James.

Glasford and the Bermuda youths are scheduled to depart for Toronto on January 2 before flying on to Sri Lanka via London.

Michael Glasford: will take charge of the Americas Select youth cricket squad heading to Sri Lanka.