Cricketers vying for places in Bermuda's national team for October's Shell/Sandals tournament in Grenada and St. Lucia have been given an ultimatum: Agree to a drug test or face being thrown off the squad.

That message was made loud and clear early this week when players were asked to sign an agreement adhering to Government's drugs policy.

"We made it clear on Wednesday night that they all will be drug tested prior to leaving the Island and also well before the final squad is selected within the next few weeks,'' said El James, newly elected president of Bermuda Cricket Board of Control.

James stressed that Government's drugs policy would be strictly adhered to as the new executive take steps to ensure that the BCBC do not fall into the same trap as their predecessors who failed to drug test players before this year's ICC Trophy in Malaysia, despite promises to the contrary.

"Drug testing will be done well in advance and we can assure that it will be done. Since it is our intention to pick the squad within the next three weeks the testing will be done prior to that,'' said the president.

James said he firmly supported Government's policy.

"I believe that anyone going out there to represent his country, especially playing cricket in the hot sun with a ball travelling at 80 to 90 miles an hour, needs to have all of their faculties.

"They must remember that they are representing their country and are expected to be at their sharpest and make every attempt to perform at their highest level.'' The Board's advice to the players wasn't limited to drug testing as the squad were also warned about strict discipline being maintained while on tour.

"We let them know that we will stand firmly behind any team management decisions made prior to them leaving or during the tour. If the captain, coach or manager decide something, the players will have to agree to it,'' said James.

Meanwhile, national coach Allan Douglas kicks off the team's training on Monday at Police Field with an extraordinary approach -- one that will feature a limited overs match with one team using the entire time batting against the fielding team.

"We are doing something different. We will have a series of trial matches like this. They are doing it a lot in the Caribbean. It gives everyone an equal opportunity to play,'' said Douglas.

The training squads are as follows: Squad One: Dennis Archer, Jermaine Warner, Glenn Blakeney, Irving Romaine, Anthony Amory, Sammy Robinson, Lionel Cann, Roger Trott, Dexter Smith, Daniel Caines, Ryan Steede, Garry Williams.

Squad Two: Arnold Manders, Kevin Hurdle, Gregory Foggo, Herbie Bascome, Dwayne Leverock, Hasan Durham, Charlie Marshall, Jason Lewis, Mark Ray, Donald Norford, Clay Smith, Kameron Fox.

EL JAMES -- firmly behind Government's drugs policy.