The initiative has been developed by the tourist office to promote the islands involvement and recent on-island developments for the forthcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.

Cricket Week will begin on Monday 21 August with a reception for Antigua & Barbuda’s UK partners and members of the press in London at One Aldwych - the sister hotel to the exclusive and contemporary five star Carlisle Bay in Antigua.

On Wednesday 23 August, the tourist office will host a celebrity packed cricket match at Bowdon Cricket Club, just outside Manchester, sponsored by bmi (British Midland), which offers direct flights from Manchester to Antigua, and Rex resorts.

The eminent Lashings World XI will take on the tourist office’s Sir Viv Richards Select XI - a team captained by the illustrious Sir Viv Richards and made up of Antigua’s cricketing legends, Richie Richardson and Curtly Ambrose, plus various representatives from the tourist office, bmi and members of the media.

 The Lashings team reads like a who’s who of cricketing mega stars and will be a treat for all attending the event. The team includes Alvin Kallicharran (WI), Tatenda Taibu (ZIM), Chris Cairns (NZ), Chris Lewis (ENG), Phil De Freitas (ENG), Aravinda de Silva (SL), Nantie Haywood (SA), Vasbert Drakes (WI), Rashid Latif (PAK), Phil Simmonds (WI), Peter Such (ENG), Courtney Walsh (WI) and Gordon Greenidge (WI).

Throughout the week, Sir Viv Richards will take part in a series of interviews to convey the importance of cricket to Antigua & Barbuda.

 The whole nation is looking forward to next year when, between March and April 2007, Antigua and Barbuda will be proudly hosting six of the spectacular Super Eight matches at the brand new Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Source: Antigua Sun