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BCB set to investigate gang-related incidents

Bermuda Cricket Board have formed a committee to investigate two gang-related incidents which occurred during this season’s Premier Division games between St George’s and PHC.Players from both clubs were allegedly involved in angry confrontations before the games at Wellington Oval on July 3, and at PHC Field on August 24.Umpires included both incidents in reports to the Board, in which they are believed to name St George’s duo Detroy Smith and Macai Simmons and PHC’s Khiry Furbert as the main culprits.Furbert is understood to have been threatened before the first game in July to such an extent that he left the East End before the game began, an incident that ultimately led to a St George’s player being threatened in the return fixture two weeks ago.The second incident is understood to have spurred the Board into action after the first report, from umpires Bobby Smith and Caleb John-Pierre, allegedly met with little enthusiasm.“The BCB has formed a committee headed by first vice president, Allen Richardson, to investigate the two incidents that occurred prior to games between St. Georges’ and PHC and will not comment on the specifics of that enquiry until their work is concluded,” said the Board in a statement yesterday.“The scope of the committee’s work has been extended to include the information provided in the umpire’s report relating to the August 20th incident received on the afternoon of August 24th. It is currently expected that this committee will have completed its work and forward recommendations before the next BCB Executive meeting.“Additionally, Clay Smith has confirmed to a BCB official that the St. George’s club will be acting on the July 3rd incident. A PHC official has confirmed that their club will be investigating and acting on both incidents.“It is untrue to claim that the Board has refused to act on the report received from the umpires.”The length of time it has taken to investigate the first incident has had a knock on effect with the umpiring on the Island. As a result of what they feel is insufficient support from the Board umpires are now opting to officiate at Commercial League games rather than be subjected to the anti-social behaviour of players and spectators which has reached a new low.Of the five Lindos Twenty20 games played on Sunday three matches, at Wellington Oval and PHC Field, were left without umpires and that came on top of no officials being assigned to the Premier Division clash between St David’s and PHC at Lords a week earlier.Instead, four umpires were used to officiate at the Commercial League’s knockout cup semi-finals on Sunday, while two others stood in games involving Warwick and Cleveland and Devonshire Rec against Flatts.The Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association have refused to comment publicly on the situation, although several umpires have said privately that they are making a point.The BCB meanwhile would only say that they were unaware of the reason for the lack of umpires as this past weekend’s Twenty20 matches and have scheduled a meeting with the BCUA tonight to discuss the matter.“The BCB received the umpire schedule for the weekend of August 27 and 28th at 4.44pm on Friday August 26th,” said the BCB.“The BCB is not aware of the reason that no umpires were scheduled at Wellington Oval or PHC on Sunday August 28th. The BCUA and BCB will be meeting on Tuesday, August 30th when the BCUA will explain the rationale for the scheduling.”