Cup Match hero Janeiro Tucker has been dropped from Bermuda's Americas Cup squad after being told his "services were not needed".

The Southampton Rangers skipper, who blasted his way into the Cup Match record books last year with an innings of 186 at Wellington Oval, was arguably the key man in the team that takes to the field in Argentina next week.

He was named in the original 14-man squad released by Bermuda Cricket Board of Control (BCBC) at the beginning of the month, but has, by his own admission, not trained consistently and when the new squad was given to The Royal Gazette yesterday his name had been deleted.

In what has proved to be a selection nightmare for the BCBC, Tucker joins Albert Steede, Jermaine Postlethwaite and Irving Romaine on the sidelines. However, unlike that trio, Tucker's decision was made for him.

"I never pulled out really," he said yesterday. "They just sent me a letter saying my services weren't needed."

"I would have gone. But that is up to them. I haven't been training often but I explained to them that I am working Saturdays and Sundays. I told them my case and then I just got the letter."

Tucker, who said he still had the desire to play for Bermuda, said he wasn't going to make a fuss about the BCBC's decision.

"I'm not disappointed," he said. "I can't make them put me in the side. It doesn't make any sense for me to cry over spilled milk."

It's not spilled milk, but spilled blood that Tucker believes is behind why so many players have exercised their right not to go to Argentina.

A total of 27 people were killed in December when public frustrations boiled over at an economic slump that has impoverished thousands of Argentinians and led Fernando de la Rua to resign as President.

Earlier this year protestors took to the streets again when new President Eduardo Duhalde told local radio he needed more time to stabilise the economy after a painful devaluation. Although the situation is not as bad now, and tournament organisers say they don't anticipate any problems, it seems some of Bermuda's cricketers are far from convinced.

"I think that a lot of guys may have pulled out because of the violence that's been going on," said Tucker. "It was on my mind, but I would still have gone."

However, despite saying he would have travelled the player does not believe it prudent to put others in the potential line of fire.

"Personally, I don't think they should go but that's a board decision," he said. "It's not guaranteed that everything is going to be fine."

Newly-elected BCBC president Reggie Pearman was reluctant to go into too much detail about the decision to drop Tucker.

"He had not shown any interest in it (the tournament)," he said. "At this late stage we could not afford to hold off. The deadline had already past anyhow. We had to submit the squad three weeks ago but we said we had been forced to make four changes."

Tucker, meanwhile, said he believed winning the tournament, which also features Canada, the USA, the Bahamas, the Caymans and the Argentine hosts, was beyond Bermuda.

"They have some good youngsters," he said. "I guess they will learn a lesson from this tournament but I don't think they (Bermuda) will win it. I guess they (the BCBC) are just looking at gaining exposure for those youngsters."

Tucker believes if the team does put on a creditable performance the likes of OJ Pitcher and Chris Foggo could find themselves regularly appearing on the international stage.

"A lot of them could keep their places," he said. "A lot of them have got the talent. But they don't get the exposure. So I guess with all these guys pulling out it gives them a chance."

The player said he believed giving youth a chance was "good for Bermuda cricket" as many senior players were reaching the end of the line.

"Look how they called Charlie (Marshall) back," he said, by way of example. "He hasn't got too much time left."

Revised squad: Charlie Marshall (capt), Dwayne Leverock, Chris Foggo, OJ Pitcher, Stephen Outerbridge, Jekon Edness, Jacobi Robinson, Herbie Bascome, Dennis Pilgrim, Hasan Durham, Aaron Adams, Dennis Archer, Sammy Robinson, Wendell White.