Bermuda Cricket Board of Control are continuing to struggle to put together a formidable national squad in time for the Americas Cup in Argentina - now less than three weeks away.

But while their attempt to find 14 willing and able bodies is proving difficult, the BCBC remain adamant that Bermuda will still be represented in South America.

"Of course we will still be sending a team to the tournament,"' assured Board secretary Charlotte Simons yesterday.

However, it's become an open secret that the selection committee are scrambling to plug the holes left by the likes of top batsmen Clay Smith, Glenn Blakeney and Albert Steede as well as Jermaine Postlethwaite.

The latest player reportedly to have withdrawn from the squad is batsman Irving Romaine. And there is a fear that top allrounder Janeiro Tucker could be among the missing as he has been conspicuous by his absence at several training sessions in recent weeks.

Secretary Simons said she didn't know much about the make-up of the squad but agreed it would have to be finalised very soon in order that documentation could be completed in time for the squad's official departure on March 6.

Three batsmen are understood to have been brought in to fill the vacancies left by the withdrawals - Dennis Archer of Police, Sammy Robinson of St. David's and Aaron Adams of Cleveland County.

The trio are believed to have made their first appearance at training on Monday night.

Privately the Board are known to be upset by a general apathy surrounding the trip but with Bermuda being a key member of the Americas, they realise that withdrawing from the tournament at this late stage would be an embarrassment.

The Board's problems haven't been restricted to finding players. Officials to serve as either tour manager or team manager have yet to be named.

New BCBC president Reginald Pearman, former second vice-president Ellsworth Christopher, secretary Simons, former president El James, and first and second vice-presidents Keith Wainwright and Gary Fray have all indicated that they are not available to travel, while former assistant coach Winston Reid has said he cannot fill the role of team manager.

It's believed that position could be offered to former national team allrounder Noel Gibbons, who is a member of the selection committee and whose presence has been noticeable at many of the training sessions.

The BCBC, meanwhile, have been assured by the host country that it is safe for all of the countries to travel to Argentina, despite the civil unrest in recent weeks.

Other countries participating aside from the hosts and Bermuda are Canada, Cayman Islands, Bahamas and the United States.