Cricket's development in the Caribbean Rim takes an important step forward next week when the first tournament for Afffiliate members of the Americas region takes place in Jamaica.

The Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, the Turks & Caicos Islands and Panama will play off for two places at the second Americas Cup to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina next March.

The format of the tournament, to be held from August 25-28, will be a round robin consisting of matches of 50-over-a-side duration. The draw will be announced tomorrow.

For reasons not known at this stage, Belize will not be participating.

The Cayman Islands will arguably go into the tournament as favourites following their bold showing at the first Americas Cup last year, where they toppled Argentina and almost defeated the United States.

"The balance of the side will be the same, but I have brought a couple of players who I think can improve the team," Caymans' national coiach, Theo Cuffy said.

Panama competed in the South American Championships last year, impressing when making the semi-finals. However, ICC eligibility rules did not apply and it is unclear whether these will have weakened the team.

The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands will both be making their debuts in an international tournament, although the Bahamas toured England in 1999 and has played unofficial internationals in past years.

The Bahamas have reportedly played several practice matches and been in training.

The value of a tournament of this kind cannot be understated, giving the countries both a barometer of their respective standards and a standard to work towards.

The Bahamas squad is:

*Llewellyn Armstrrong   (Paradise CC) right hand bat and right arm bowler
Gary Armstrong 		(Paradise CC) right hand bat and right arm fast bowler
Gary Braithwaite        (Paradise CC) opening right hand bat
John Mayers 		(Paradise CC) right hand bat
Greg Taylor		(Police CC)   right hand bat
Dwight Wheatley 	(Police CC)   right hand bat and left arm bowler
Gasha Blair		(Police CC)   right arm fast bowler and right hand bat
Gary Campbell 		(Police CC)   right arm fast bowler and right hand bat
Edmund Lewis 		(Police CC)   right arm off spin bowler and right hand bat
Jai Mangra 		(Superstars CC)	wicket keeper and opening right hand bat
Cliff Atkinson 		(Superstars CC)	right hand bat and left arm bowler
Corey Dean  		(St Agnes CC)	right hand bat
Randolph Coakley  	(St Agnes CC)	right hand bat
Trevor Marton 		(Freeport CC)	leg spinner and right hand bat

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