``We won the World Cup in 1975, we won it again in 1979, but we have not won it since,'' said Chris Dehring, the West Indies Cricket Board's chief marketing officer, at the press conference broadcast live to the Caribbean.

``It is time we win it again and Red Stripe Bowl 98 can help us prepare for it. The World Cup is set for next year in England and the Bowl will be the last chance for players to impress the selectors.''

That sentiment was also expressed by Harry Smith - marketing manager - lager at D&G, and Jackie Hendriks - president of the Jamaica Cricket Board of Control.

``The competition is timely,'' said Smith, ``it is the final chance for players to catch the eyes of the selectors.''

``For those players who have not won been selected for the limited-over matches in Bangladesh, this is a chance for them to make their point,'' said Hendriks

The Red Stripe Bowl will be played in two groups, with group one in Guyana, and group two in Jamaica, with the top two teams in each group moving into the semi-finals and the two winners meeting in the final.

The groups:

Group One - Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Windward Islands, Bermuda.

Group Two - Jamaica, defending champions Leeward Islands, the United States of America.