Bridgetown (Barbados), March 31 (IANS): The Golden Oldies World Cricket Festival, an international tournament for semi-professional and retired players, will be held in the Caribbean in 2017.

Barbados has won the rights to host the festival which will run from May 6 to 13 in Bridgetown, reports CMC.

Cricket legends Garfield Sobers and Joel Garner have joined a delegation to promote the tournament in Cape Town, South Africa, at this year’s edition of the festival.

"What is particularly interesting about having the 2017 Golden Oldies Cricket Festival is that it takes place during May, which allows us to increase arrivals during a traditionally slower month," Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI) chairman Alvin Jemmott said.

About 600 visitors are expected in Barbados for the festival, a brainchild of cricket enthusiast Peter McDermott.

The Golden Oldies Festival, held in destinations such as Adelaide, Birmingham, Brisbane, Auckland and Sydney, is not limited to cricket but also has editions catering to those who play rugby, golf, hockey and netball.