the past month.

Suspension, school and work commitment, and mandatory drug-testing has forced the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control (BCBC) to widen its net in an attempt to send the best possible team to Guyana early next month.

The Royal Gazette has learned that at least eight players from an original squad of approximately 28 have been withdrawn, the majority of whom considered to be shoo-ins for selection.

Top of the list are Clay Smith, who is suspended and now remains captain in waiting, and former captain Albert Steede who cannot break from his studies in Jamaica.

There are unconfirmed reports that at least two players have failed drug tests while as many either refused or have yet to be tested.

BCBC president El James refused to comment on the drug-testing results when questioned yesterday. "All I will say is that we will be picking a squad based on ability, the player's character and deportment. We don't want to take anybody down there who is going to embarrass us,'' he said.

"We can't get embarrassed if a team doesn't score any runs, but if a person can't conduct himself well on local soil they are not going to do so abroad.

"We are going to base the selection process on these areas and of course the drug-testing process. We don't care how good a player may be, if they can't meet the criteria mentioned then they will not be considered for the tournament.'' Bermuda's first match is against Trinidad and Tobago on October 7.

While the board was not prepared to discuss team selection, it is believed that national coach Allan Douglas has his hands tied on the eve of final team selection.

Word is that the board's decision to have players tested within a short period after selecting the training squad contributed to the fact that some tested positive.

When the team was selected for the Red Stripe Bowl last year, testing was unintentionally delayed for over a month, the extended period enabling any user of a drug such as marijuana to get it out of his system. Meanwhile, James did reveal that the board has met with West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers about the possibilities of sending a national youth team to the Sir Garfield Sobers International Schoolboys competition in Barbados next year, an event which will involve 20 teams. But it remains to be seen whether Bermuda would be interested, especially since Bermuda and Canada have recently confirmed plans to engage in competition next year at both the senior and junior levels.

"We did meet with Sir Gary, heard his proposal and now we have to discuss it among further among ourselves to see if it is feasible at this particular time,'' said James. "It was good to have him extend the invitation. If it's not possible for us to accept next year, perhaps we will be in position to consider doing so further down the road.'' CLAY SMITH -- Suspension has started a sequence that has seen the BCBC look under every nook and cranny for `squad material' players.