Several of the Island?s brightest future cricket prospects have either been banned or placed on probation by Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) after landing themselves in hot water during a tour of Jamaica last August, has learned.

Although details remained sketchy at press time last night, it is understood St.David?s fast bowler George O?Brien Jr and all-rounder Shannon Raynor along with Western Stars opener Treadwell Gibbons Jr have each been slapped with some form of punishment by a Board disciplinary committee headed by Warwick president Gary Fray.

It was also learned yesterday that Somerset Cricket Club all-rounder Azeem Pitcher had escaped being punished after offering the Board an official apology.

BCB president Reggie Pearman and disciplinary committee chairman Fray both refused to comment on the matter yesterday.

Fray told : ?The Board?s policy has and still is that all press releases must come directly from the president himself. Therefore, I really don?t want to make any comments at this time.?

According to reliable sources, Pitcher and Raynor were involved in an altercation during the West Indies Cricket Board Under-19 Youth Tournament in Jamaica last August, while O?Brien and Gibbons were summoned before the disciplinary committee for displaying unsportsmanlike conduct while on tour representing Bermuda?s Under-23 national squad in the Caribbean over the summer.

Both Gibbons and O?Brien had gone before the Board?s disciplinary committee earlier last year for fighting during an Under-19 national squad practice session at the National Sports Centre.

Last week it was reported in that prolific Warwick batsman Dion Stovell had received a four-match ban after being found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute during the same tour of Jamaica last summer.

Stovell, who is currently seeking a transfer to nearby Southampton Rangers, has reportedly appealed against the Board?s ruling and had, in fact, already served a one-match ban while on tour.

The gifted strokeplayer had run afoul of the Board after protesting an umpire?s decision to give him out during a limited overs match against Barbados at Camp Field in Jamaica.

After being given out caught behind, Stovell, who scored a double-century representing Bermuda?s Under-19 national squad in Canada in 2003, reportedly stood his ground and indicated with his finger that the ball had actually come off his helmet. can confirm the remaining three banned players have also appealed against their Board-imposed punishments.

The latest revelation could impact on Bermuda?s senior national team at next July?s ICC Trophy Tournament in Ireland as Stovell, O?Brien and Gibbons are among a short list of players the Island has pinned its future hopes upon.