Janeiro Tucker's availability for February's Stanford 20/20 Tournament in Antigua is in serious doubt after Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) bounced the star all-rounder with a six-match ban for bringing the game into disrepute.

The Board came down strongly on the 32-year-old Southampton Rangers player/coach, who allegedly swore at umpire Hector Watson from the clubhouse balcony at Southampton Oval during a September Premier Division match involving his team and Cleveland County - a charge both Rangers chairman Randy Raynor and Tucker have denied.

"There were at least 25 people on the balcony at the time yet the umpire singles out Janeiro," said Raynor, who also serves as a club representative on the Board.

It is the second time this year Tucker, who has compiled 493 runs in 24 one-day internationals, has landed himself in hot water with cricket's governing body.

In June of this year Tucker served a three-match ban after being written up by umpire Anthony Fubler for unsportsmanlike conduct.

However, the top all-rounder's Stanford 20/20 hopes may not be completely dashed as his club have already taken steps to lodge an appeal against the BCB's ruling.

"This matter isn't over yet," Raynor declared. "We are going to deal with this matter at club level first and then appeal within the required seven days."

Tucker was originally scheduled to go before the Board's disciplinary committee - consisting of former Bermuda skipper Colin Blades, BCB secretary Charlotte (Molly) Simons, chairman Gary Fray and Winston Hollinsid - in September. But according to Raynor, a request by national coach Gus Logie to have the player's disciplinary hearing rescheduled to enable him to tour Kenya and Dubai with the senior national squad last month was granted by the BCB.

"This is a slap in Janeiro's face. They (BCB) just used him to go to Africa and then when he returns they slap him in the face," Raynor argued.

Tucker, the only Bermudian batsman to score two centuries in the ICC Trophy, has until this Thursday to appeal against his suspension.