Bermuda youngsters to compete in mini World Cup

Some of Bermuda's most talented young cricketers will compete for an Americas XI in a mini World Cup to be held in the West Indies next month.

The Under-15 tournament will also include West Indies, Ireland, Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan, Holland and Zimbabwe. Bermuda were invited to send a team but because of exam commitments the board opted to be part of an Americas select instead.

Lionel Tannock, the manager of the senior national team, has been selected as the Americas manager with Theo Cuffy, the Cayman coach, chosen as head coach.

The group stages will take place in Trinidad and Guyana, from April 19.

Bermuda coach Gus Logie said the selectors would choose five or six youngsters to be part of the squad, which will also include players from Canada, the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands.

"The squad is in training at the moment," he said, "and the selectors will be getting together over the next few weeks."

Grant Smith, the Under-15 national coach, said the quality remained pleasingly high - an age group Bermuda traditionally dominate in the Americas.

The likes of Greg Maybury, Tre Govia and Deunte Darrell - who travelled with the Under-19s to the recent World Cup - along with Shea Pitcher, Josh Gilbert, Sinclair Smith and Kevon Fubler are all in contention for a place in the Americas side.

"It should be a very competitive tournament. The last time they held an Under-15 World Cup was quite a few years ago," Logie said. "A few of the big names, like Australia and South Africa, are not participating. I don't really know what to expect to tell you the truth."