Antigua are to be allowed to compete in this year's Red Stripe Bowl competition as a separate entity. This followed an agreement between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA) to allow Antigua to compete in this year's competition along with a Leeward Islands XI.

The agreement provides for the two teams from the Leeward Islands to be a Leeward Islands XI and the most recent Leeward Islands One-Day champions, Antigua. In reaching this agreement, both parties respected the positions taken by each side on the issue and are pleased that in the interest of continued good harmony and for the good for West Indies cricket that the matter has been resolved.

Speaking during a press conference at the Antigua Recreation Grounds yesterday, president of the Antigua Cricket Association, Enoch Lewis, said that the Leeward Islands "have no choice but to support Antigua playing as a separate entity". Lewis continued by saying: "I think we are shooting ourselves in the foot in the Leewards territories if we reject the WICB's ruling."

In response to questions about the Leewards' position on the WICB proposal to expand the Red Stripe Bowl competition, Lewis said: "We never had the option of choosing two Leewards teams."

The WICB, however, maintains that the configuration for the 2001 Red Stripe Bowl tournament is a one-off situation and the parties look forward to an increased number of teams participating in the WICB One-Day tournament in 2002.

The Leeward Islands XI will compete in Zone A in Jamaica while Antigua will compete in Zone B in Guyana.

The preliminary round of the Red Stripe Bowl competition will be played from 9-16 October, with the Final Four weekend being played from 19-21 October in Jamaica.

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