Doubts over the physical fitness of an unnamed member of Bermuda's ICC Trophy team were yesterday forcing Bermuda Cricket Board Control to reconsider the make-up of the squad at the eleventh hour.

The team are scheduled to leave for Malaysia this Saturday and BCBC president Ed Bailey, just back from the cricket Test between West Indies and India in Jamaica, was yesterday closely examining situation.

"Now we are giving very strong attention to one particular player who we will not name,'' said Bailey.

"If a change is made we will be announcing it in the next 48 hours. What we are happy about is that the overall team is a fit group other than this one person who appears to be fit but is still causing a little concern. So we are going to watch the situation closely.

"I am very concerned myself and I am going to personally monitor the medical reports, speak to the doctors directly and if there is a need to make a change then we will make it sooner rather than later.'' There has been speculation for some time now about the fitness of two players in particular, all-rounder Lionel Cann and spin bowler Kameron Fox.

While both struggled for form during the three pre-tournament practice matches, the last of which was held on Saturday, Cann, who sat the second game out, is the player rumoured to be causing most concern.

However, both coach Allan Douglas and the player himself have constantly stated that his physical condition was fine and that any concern was unwarranted.

Several observers, some in letters to Sports Mailbox, have expressed concern that the selection of two players not considered 100 percent fit would severely jeopardise Bermuda's chances of improving on their fourth place finish four years go.

The two stand-by players are opening batsman Dexter Smith and wicketkeeper Jason Simons.

Smith's omission from the original squad raised eyebrows because there was no specialist opener named in the first place. The consensus also was that he merited selection because of his outstanding performance during the last ICC tournament in Kenya when he top-scored with a Bermuda record of 392 runs at an average of 56.00.

But Bailey pointed out that there was no guarantee that either of these two players would be added in the event of another dropping out, citing that it would depend on the type of player excluded.

He said that if somebody like fast bowler Roger Blades was the injured person the obvious replacement would be another fast bowler.

However, Bailey indicated that Smith and Simons would be strong replacement candidates because they had been training regularly with the squad for a lengthy period.

Whatever decision is made would be in the best interests of the national team, assured Bailey.

"If the person causing us concern turns out to be fit I will be very pleased about it. I am hoping that we don't have to make a change but we are going to be honest with the country,'' added Bailey.

To leave a decision this late, Bailey agreed, was hard on the standby players.

"I feel sorry for anybody who is standing by, if we have to give them late notice. But this is one of those things. At this level we have to follow a certain process in making such decision,'' he said. Bermuda actually have added time to make changes if needed -- up until March 24, prior to the start of competition in Malaysia. New players can be flown in before that date.

Bermuda open their campaign against Italy before taking on Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and Scotland in group matches.

LIONEL CANN -- claims he is fit for the trip to Malaysia despite reports to the contrary.