indefinitely from participating any further as an umpire in local cricket matches sanctioned by the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control.

The board has taken the disciplinary action after Butler claimed last week that "there were a handful of bowlers in Bermuda cricket who throw the ball and the board knows about them but have done nothing about it.'' Butler was responding to questions put to him by The Royal Gazette after the action of two local bowlers, Gary Brangman and Dale Fox, was questioned by umpires during the recent tour of Barbados by the Bermuda national team.

However, the remarks obviously upset the board and during a meeting on Monday night disciplinary action was taken against Butler in his absence.

Reginald Pearman, vice president of the BCBC, confirmed the ban and indicated that they were not pleased with the remarks made by Butler.

"We met and came to the decision to impose the ban. We have taken action against him and he is not to participate in any matches sanctioned by the board until further notice,'' said Pearman.

"Butler has no right and no proof to say what he did. We met with him two years ago about a similar matter and he agreed that he will only speak on technical matters. If anyone is chucking in local cricket it is a matter for the umpires, not the board. We just don't know where he (Butler) is coming from.'' When contacted last night Butler said that he was in no position to comment because he had not seen the official letter which the board has sent to the umpire's association. But he did confirm that George Francis, secretary of the BCUA, was in possession of the letter and that Francis had informed him by telephone of the ban.

Butler expressed his concern over the board's reluctance to deal with the reports that are handed in by umpires containing information like throwing and other serious incidents.

While it is not known if any bowlers were penalised last season, Butler was concerned that two other serious incidents have not yet been dealt with by the board.

Two such incidents occured near the end of last season. One saw two Bailey's Bay players were reported to have kicked down the stumps during a Premier Division game at Sea Breeze Oval while the other took place during the Colts' Cup Match last September at Somerset CC when bottles and other obstacles were thrown at umpire Wilton Woolridge.

Butler has alleged that incidents like these have caused some umpires to withdraw their services and leave the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association short of officials.

RANDY BUTLER.