Contrary to claims made by Bermuda Cricket Board president Reggie Pearman in Wednesday's Royal Gazette, it was learned yesterday that BCB officials had, in fact, accepted changes in format for the former Camel Cup competition which would have seen both PHC and Willow Cuts featured in this year's competition.

In a official BCB document obtained by The Royal Gazette, Board officials accepted national coach Mark Harper's proposal that changes be made to the popular tournament (now called the Belco Cup) during a meeting at BCB headquarters early last year.

The document clearly outlines the topics that were discussed during the meeting and accepted by the Board. And they included changes to the Camel Cup to increase participation to six teams - though it was agreed that clubs would have to make the final decision.

On Wednesday, Pearman was quoted as saying: "At the meeting in April, 2002, when we announced the restructuring and the splitting of the Premier Division into two divisions, a suggestion was raised to consider extending the event (Camel Cup) to six teams. However, there was no subsequent discussions and certainly no decision to extend the event."

Those comments clearly contradict the document that states the date, venue, who was present and topics discussed during the meeting.

Earlier this week Willow Cuts official Keith Lapsley said he was present during the 2002 AGM and personally took part in the vote that promoted the top two teams from the First Division last year into this year's competition.