Bermuda allrounder Saleem Mukuddem admitted yesterday he had reservations over the recent appointment of Herbie Bascome to the position of assistant coach on the eve of the national cricket team?s current tour of Toronto.

But since the team?s arrival in Toronto nine days ago, the two appear to have put any differences behind them.

Mukuddem and Bascome grabbed headlines following last year?s heated Cup Match classic at Wellington Oval where several ugly on-field shenanigans cast the annual cricket spectacle in a bad light.

Mukuddem alleged that Bascome, then skipper of St. George?s, hurled racists remarks at him while he was batting ? claims backed by Somerset team-mate Wendell White.

Bascome, who denied the claims, subsequently received a two-year probation for the incident, but continues to make great strides at the coaching level.

?I did have reservations at the start when I heard he was coming on the tour because I didn?t want anything to interfere with my focus on performing for Bermuda,? Mukuddem said.

?I thought this was something that would, whether consciously or sub-consciously, affect me. I am here to play cricket for Bermuda and do my best and that?s where I need to focus all of my energies and not let anything outside of that distract me.

?But having Herbie around during warm-up sessions has added a different dimension to our preparations and he has a lot to give to Bermuda cricket, a lot of experience and a good rapport with the players.

?And basically I?ve put any personal feelings aside because we are all working towards the betterment of Bermuda cricket. We haven?t discussed the subject matter, but I guess both of us have, in our own way, have put that behind and gone ahead with the task. And at the end of the day we are playing cricket because we love it and we are also doing it for Bermuda.?

Bermuda coach Gus Logie said the incidents that tarnished the 2005 classic in the East End were ?now a thing of the past?.

?I think as far as we are concerned this is a dead issue. Players have apologised to each other and moved on,? he said.

?So I don?t think there?s an issue here at all and anybody who wishes to make an issue over it is really beating a dead horse.

?When the appointment was made to have Herbie involved it was made by me. And so far he has done an excellent job with all of the players. He has respect for them and they have respect for him and we are all quite happy to have Herbie onboard.?

Bascome, meanwhile, questioned why some people want to dig up the past unnecessarily.

?It is all about love and getting to the next level. The guys are enjoying themselves and getting on with things, and I don?t know why some people would want to dig things up,? he said.

?I try to do as much as I can for the country because I love what I do and love seeing youths get to the next level. And all I want to do is help.?