Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) disciplinary committee chairman Gary Fray did not rule out the possibility of imposing additional punishment on Bermuda Under-19 all-rounder Chris Douglas yesterday.

The immensely talented yet temperamental cricketer was sent home early from the Sir Gary Sobers International Schools Tournament in Barbados after serving a three-match ban for insubordinance.

Douglas is alleged to have displayed unruly behaviour towards team management and now faces the prospect of further punishment.

“At the moment we are still waiting to receive an official report on the matter from the team’s manager (Gerald Bean). And once we compile all of the facts we will then go from there,” commented Fray.

Only last week the Warwick cricketer was selected to tour Ireland next month with the senior national squad following Under-19 World Cup qualifiers in Toronto.

Douglas returned to the Island last Saturday and produced outstanding bowling figures of five for 30 in a losing cause representing First Division Warwick against PHC the next day at Southampton Oval.

When pressed on the matter yesterday, assistant Bermuda Under-19 coach Arnold Manders told The Royal Gazette: “This is a national programme and we are out to help youngsters progress. There are certain things that have to be done and if you can’t meet the criteria then you get kicked out of the programme — and this is something we have seen already in the past.

“He either wants to be a part of the programme or doesn’t want to be a part. But recommendations have been made for him and if he can fulfil those obligations then he can still go to Canada. But at this time I cannot divulge certain things that have been put in place.”

Douglas’ issues could not have surfaced at worse time with World Cup qualifiers in Toronto just weeks away. The promising cricketer travelled to the Caribbean in good form and in limited appearances led Bermuda’s batting after compiling 149 runs from four visits to the crease at an average of 31.1 runs per innings.

“This is something the BCB will have to deal with. But as far as we are concerned Chris is not out of the Under-19 programme and as coaches these are just some of the things you have to deal with,” Manders said. “And if he doesn’t go to Canada it will be a loss, but we will still be competitive and what people must understand is that no one player is bigger than the game.

“Chris was insubordinate and has been dealt with and that is it. He missed three games (in Barbados) and as far as the coaches are concerned we feel that he has served his punishment.”

Meanwhile, it is now understood that former Under-19 skipper Oronde Bascome has had an apparent change of heart and is keen on rejoining his Under-19 colleagues.

Bascome dropped out of the national programme shortly after the BCB pulled the plug on funding for school studies overseas in the UK.

“I really don’t know what is going to happen with that,” Manders said.

“But Oronde has not been a part of the programme and as far as we are concerned he is not going to be a part of the programme.

“And as coaches of the Under-19 programme we are prepared to play without him.̶