Only about ten players showed up for Saturday’s first scheduled inter-squad match at the National Stadium as part of the national cricket squad’s winter training programme.Bermuda Cricket Board, anxious to give the team the best possible preparation ahead of next April’s ICC World Cricket League’s Division Three Championships in Bermuda, recently drafted a squad of 47 players, including 13 who are based overseas, to begin early preparation.However, low turn-out to training has meant that preparation has not been at the level the BCB had anticipated with a training session last evening at the stadium cancelled because of the weather.A meeting was held recently to inform the players of the training programme and the Board’s expectations of the players over the coming months. But that meeting, it is understood, was also not well attended with only a few senior players and some youngsters showing up.One player who did attend, and spoke on condition of anonymity, said there appeared to be a general disinterest with some players, with training coming so soon after the end of the season.Another player confirmed that he was taking some time off after a long season, though he was still interested in being involved in the programme.Several players are also now playing football and have made that their priority for the time being.A recent press release by the Board stated that after the three planned inter-squad practice matches (another is scheduled for October 6) the squad size would be reduced and that a selection policy would be put in place and applied consistently.That policy includes:PerformanceTraining and preparationSession attendancePhysical fitnessCommitment to Bermuda cricketDiscipline and behaviourThe squad contains many senior players with past international experience and several youngsters, including several who are overseas in school such as Kamau Leverock, Greg Maybury, OJ Pitcher, Stefan Kelly, Tre Manders, Regino Smith, Oronde Bascome, Onias Bascome and Christian Burgess.Captain David Hemp, whose role as captain in the team has been questioned by some former players, is also still based in England and isn’t likely to train regularly with the squad.As to the captaincy issue the Board recently stated in a press release: “The BCB Executive has also approved a captaincy criteria. This will be used as an objective tool to make future selections for captain.“Criteria for assessment of captain are designed to ensure that the captain is a competent, committed and accountable leader both on and off the field, who demonstrates a high level of tactical and strategic understanding, has the ability to educate players and who demonstrates the highest degree of professionalism.”Said coach David Moore recently: “Now that the teams for ICC World Cricket League have been finalised, it is clear that the tournament will be a difficult assignment. Teams like Uganda, Nepal, USA and Oman have challenged us in the past and it is realistic to expect close fought and highly competitive matches as teams fight hard to gain promotion to World Cup qualifier.“There is a comprehensive training programme planned to take the squad toward the tournament and if the players are fully committed the team should perform at their best. The training programme, as well as the knowledge and experience in playing in local conditions should hold the team in good stead in the tournament and aid in the goal of promotion.”BCB CEO Neil Speight said he was not in a position to comment yesterday.