National team selector Clay Smith has blamed Bermuda’s successive losses in their opening three ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers in Dubai to poor execution and tactics, slow batting and baffling team selection.

Losses to Denmark, Hong Kong and the Netherlands have pushed Bermuda to the brink of elimination from the tournament.

“The reality is we have failed to execute and so far we have been tactically poor,” said Smith in his weekly

Royal Gazette column (Page 27). “Some baffling team decisions to go along with some astonishingly slow batting for T/20 standards has let us down.”

Bermuda have yet to burn on all cylinders in Dubai.

David Moore’s team went down to the Danes by seven wickets in their first match after posting a modest 116 for seven. Only two batsmen, Dion Stovell (56) and skipper David Hemp (36), managed double figures.

The batsmen batsmen pulled up their socks in the second match against Hong Kong. But their bowlers lacked the resolve to contain the Hong Kong batsmen who carried their team across the line with eight wickets in hand and nearly three overs to spare.

Yesterday’s match against the Netherlands saw an improved display in the Island’s bowling. But their batsmen were unable to chase down 126 for victory and allowed far too many dot balls which didn’t help the team’s cause any.

A loss to Americas rivals Canada today would effectively end all hopes of Bermuda qualifying for September’s ICC World Twenty20 2012 in Sri Lanka.

Smith hopes Bermuda can bounce back in their remaining Group A matches.

“The hope is that we have learned from our mistakes and will bounce back as the team I know we can be,” he said. “The players must show some belief and some pride in their performances.”