the ICC Trophy in Malaysia until the end of this month.

Just as the players and the public were preparing for the release of the squad, the BCBC said yesterday they would wait until the team has to be submitted to tournament organisers before announcing it locally.

"We have to present the final 16 to the ICC (International Cricket Council) by January 31 and the board will not be releasing any 16 before then,'' said BCBC president Ed Bailey yesterday -- the day it was expected the squad would be released to the public.

The board met on Tuesday to discuss the selection of the squad and it was at the meeting that it was decided to put off finalising the squad.

"We will be looking at the players more closely and the board decided to extend the announcing of the final 16 until the end of the month,'' said Bailey.

Rumours have already been circulating as to who is in or out of the squad, with veteran batsman Jeff Richardson having gone public with his disappoinntment at having be omitted.

"Jeff Richardson's statement is very premature,'' Bailey stressed. "No recommendations have been made to the board.'' In the next week or so the board will tackle the issue of two squad members, Corey Hill and Janeiro Tucker, who are also in the running for selection to the national soccer team, which travels next month to Jamaica.

It would appear that the players will have to choose between the two sports as, once the 16 is submitted to the ICC, there will be no changes allowed should Hill or Tucker pick up injuries playing soccer.

"I have invited them to come and see me and the executives in the next seven days,'' said Bailey.

"It will be explained to them very clearly that if they are both in the squad and they continue to play soccer in February that they run the risk of injury and that the board is going to be unable to replace them once the 16 is submitted to the lCC.

"The most unfortunate circumstances would be if both got injured and the squad was reduced to 14 because their places are unreplaceable. It would put the board in a most precarious position.

"If they are accepted in the 16 then it will be up to them to choose and they will know that in the next 10 to 14 days. We have received a friendly letter from the BFA asking if we have any objections (them playing for the Bermuda soccer team) but we will be concerned because of those reasons.'' Added Bailey: "I want to make it clear there is no friction between soccer and cricket (governing bodies).''