named Glenn Blakeney Jr.), Kameron Fox and Bruce Perinchief -- are adamant that injuries won't keep them out of the final squad.

Left-handed early order batsman Blakeney and left-arm slow bowlers Fox and Perinchief have reportedly been of some concern to Bermuda Cricket Board of Control because of their various ailments.

But all three assured last week they would be fit for the long trip to Malaysia in March.

"I'm doing fine. My injury is behind me and I am confident about being fully fit if chosen,'' said Blakeney.

Perinchief was also upbeat. "I'm doing well. I tore a muscle in the arm in Guyana, but I have done a lot of work in the gym to strengthen it and I expect to be in top shape if chosen,'' he said.

And the same sentiments were expressed by Fox who told The Gazette : "I'm ready if picked, that's for sure. I haven't been running on the road and other hard surfaces, but I am running on grass where it matters and I feel good.'' Blakeney's hamstring injury kept him out of all but one of the Shell/Sandals games in Guyana in October, and while he remains less than 100 percent fit, he believes the remaining seven weeks before departure will be sufficient time to get into top shape.

Concerns over veteran Perinchief are probably the least warranted as he was declared fit for the recent Guyana tour and bowled with some success in one of the two matches. He had injured a muscle in his bowling arm during the Shell/Sandals tournament.

Youngster Fox, Perinchief's heir apparent in the bowling department, was stricken with a serious virus on returning to Bermuda from Shell/Sandals and is only just getting into a conditioning programme after a lengthy spell in hospital and at home in bed. He's still unable to cope with the full demands of a training session and is unlikely to be 100 percent fit by the board's new deadline of January 31.

Board president Ed Bailey recently intimated that the injuries and illnesses suffered by the players were of concern and that was one of the reasons the final squad announcement was being withheld until the end of the month.

The final list of 16 has to be presented to the International Cricket Council by January 31.

However, it has been learned that the squad chosen is as follows: Albert Steede (captain), Clay Smith (vice-captain), Arnold Manders, Charlie Marshall, Kameron Fox, Corey Hill, Lionel Cann, Jermaine Postlethwaite, Dean Minors, Roger Blades, Kevin Hurdle, Glenn Blakeney, Del Hollis, Roger Trott, Janeiro Tucker, Bruce Perinchief.

The big surprises are the absence of stalwart batsmen Jeff Richardson and Dexter Smith, who are two of the more dedicated and dependable producers.

Richardson would have been been a valuable supplier of runs in the middle order and his fielding remains top notch while Smith, who is the reigning ICC record-holder after his performance in Kenya in 1994, would have been the lone specialist opening batsman.

Steede, Clay Smith and perhaps Trott will likely be considered to face the new ball but none are regarded as true openers.

Fears have been expressed in some circles that by including players who have virtually no experience internationally, such as all-rounder Jermaine Postlethwaite, batsman/wicketkeeper Roger Trott and medium-pace bowlers Kevin Hurdle and Corey Hill at the expense of more seasoned players, Bermuda's chances of advancing to the finals have been severely jeopardised.

ON THE MEND -- ICC Trophy hopefuls Glenn Blakeney jr (left) and Bruce Perinchief.