January, volatile all-rounder Lionel Cann yesterday blasted the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control and questioned its ability to manage the sport in Bermuda.

Blaming the board for the demise of the once-prominent Shell Youth Tournament and its preference to select older players for major events, the 20-year-old St. David's star said that the governing body was clearly sending a negative message to young players that would have serious repercussions on the further development of the sport in Bermuda.

"If the board goes on and overlooks the youth, cricket here will continue to be hurt like it has suffered since the absence of a good Shell programme for the last three years,'' Cann said. "It's clear that what they are doing will discourage young players like myself.

"Unless there are big administrative changes in local cricket I cannot see myself being enthusiastic about accepting invitations to join squads in the future. I just don't have the confidence anymore in those who are in charge.'' Cann is particularly upset over the fact that he was given no reason for his omission. He said that he was informed of the squad and nothing more was said.

But BCBC president Ed Bailey hinted at yesterday's Press conference that Cann's attendance at training may have been a decisive factor.

"The selectors have been watching the team very carefully,'' said Bailey. "I know they have taken things into consideration. I was not a selector but I understand from what was reported back to the full board that the attendance practised at the various training sessions was extremely important.

"I'm made to understand that Mr. Cann's attendance was not a regular thing.

If you set criteria you must stick to it. I'm very disappointed with even other players not being involved.'' Bailey added: "I would have loved to have seen Glenn Smith in the team. He would have done very well in Nairobi, but again he never attended any training sessions.'' Cann feels that the past season was his best ever and reckons that his impressive batting average and bowling analysis speak for themselves.

He finished fourth in runs scored with 723, one of only five to pass the 700 mark, and was sixth in the batting with an average of 38.50.

In bowling, Cann was almost as consistent although his tally of 30 wickets did not place him in the averages. He was also sharp in the field.

Overall his performance during the season was good enough to deservedly place him among the finalists for the Cricketer of the Year award, which was by Clay Smith of St. George's.

"The figures are there to show that I was the best all-rounder in the game this year. Last year was a good one for me, but it was not nearly as good as this one.'' said Cann, who was an automatic selection as a colt for St.

George's for Cup Match when again he was in the running for the MVP award.

Cann suffered a leg injury toward the end of the season, which hampered his training with the squad for a while. His involvement with the Bermuda Regiment also restricted his attendance but he said the board was aware of this.

"Even while I was injured I still showed up fairly regularly to the sessions.

Then when I came back everything was going fine, I even played soccer to prove that things were back to normal and that I was not injured. I thought things were coming along excellent with the squad,'' said Cann.

"I was just stunned to learn that I was left out. I simply cannot understand why. I haven't been rude this year.'' Cann has sour memories of another occasion when he was snubbed by the board.

In 1991, he was originally chosen as captain of the Bermuda team for the International Youth Tournament in Canada only to be dropped from the squad weeks before their departure.

"There were rumours that an umpire had questioned my disposition in a report, but I was never summoned or approached by the board. They just left me out without a single explanation,'' he recalled.

While wishing the Bermuda players well, Cann felt that the selectors were doing an injustice to players like himself who deserved a place because of their production and value to the future of the sport.

He added: "I have to laugh when I look at the squad they have chosen. They have handed places to seven senior players who have been involved in the last two tournaments and once again overlooked the youth.'' LIONEL CANN -- "I have to laugh when I look at the squad they have chosen.''