supremacy on local soil, there is a likelihood that the idea could become a reality by next year.

Serious negotiations are well underway towards having Pakistan, India and another Test nation -- either the West Indies, South Africa or Australia -- perform in a one-day competition in Bermuda next October.

"The whole thing is anything but being far-fetched... details are now being put together after the Board has already agreed in principle to have such an event or tournament held in the Island,'' said El James, president of the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control.

Well-known English businessman Andrew Wildblood, renowned organiser of many major international sporting events, visited Bermuda during the Cup Match holidays and held talks with the BCBC about the prospect of staging an event here.

Wildblood is the organiser of the annual Sahara Cup between Pakistan and India that has been held in Toronto the last four years, an event that has grown in stature with many Bermudians going up to watch the game.

James said that the Board were pleased to have him visit and offer the proposals, pointing out that they were so impressed that Wildblood was given the go-ahead to pursue the venture with their blessing.

"While here he looked at the various facilities that we have and reckoned that we had the ability to offer such a venue should things be able to be worked out,'' said James.

"Just by gaining the experience from watching his first Cup Match, seeing the tremendous support that this major game got from the public, the flavour that emanated from it, the excitement from the crown and anchor that he had never experienced, all of this heightened his enthusiasm along with the fact that various groups built their own stands and did not leave that burden with the organisers.'' According to James, Wildblood's initial trip here was to get the BCBC to sanction the idea in order that he could go back to his country and put some definitive plans on the table.

And when the Board did give him their overwhelming mark of approval he then left the Island with justified enthusiasm and a determined desire to forge ahead with plans to organise something by October.

"What excites us is that among the determining factors that assured him of the support that Bermuda would give such an event was the attendance, interest and knowledge of the spectators during Cup Match,'' said James.

"The electricity and flavour that the game produced was something he had never experienced and he was just as excited about what he heard from various groups and the ordinary fans as he circled the grounds,'' said James.

"If we can pull this event off it will be good not just for cricket but tourism, for the Island in general. What really has us on a high is that little Bermuda is on the international cricket map, to have prominent companies from abroad come here to put on sporting events clearly indicates this.

"Of course, the crowning glory would be for Bermuda to qualify for the next World Cup and then the great cricketing public that we have here would be treated to a feast of cricket 12 months of the year.

"The next three years looks as if it will be very busy. There is so much happening that is going to benefit cricket in general at both the junior and senior levels, developments that will no doubt prove to be joyful for the spectators who have longed for the revival of exciting cricket in the Island for years.'' And further down the road Bermuda could be involved in the 2007 World Cup which will be held in the Caribbean for the first time.

By that time the cricket facility at the National Sports Complex will be long completed and it has already been seen as a potential venue for a match or two for that event.