Former umpire George Francis has slammed Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) for naming all rounder Treadwell Gibbons Jr among a senior national training squad ahead of November’s ICC World Twenty20 global qualifiers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Gibbons brought last week’s Cup Match at Wellington Oval into disrepute after displaying threatening behaviour towards Somerset players and a spectator.Gibbons, who celebrated his 28th birthday earlier this week, stood his ground after being dismissed and challenged the umpire’s decision before angrily waving his bat towards Somerset players.He had to be restrained from confronting Somerset players by St George’s skipper Oronde Bascome and escorted back to the pavilion where he was involved in a separate incident near the clubhouse with a spectator that was only prevented from escalating after police stepped in.In the aftermath of both incidents the Cleveland County player was named among a senior national training squad of 36 players that will bid to represent Bermuda at the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 global qualifiers.Like many, past Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association (BCUA) president Francis was appalled to learn of Gibbons’ surprise inclusion in the squad and accused local cricket’s governing body of turning a blind eye to the player’s transgressions at Cup Match.“This is the most despicable thing I’ve ever heard of in my lifetime,” he said. “I can’t believe the cricket board picked this boy in the training squad after what he did. I don’t think the cricket board is interested in running cricket and to put it bluntly I don’t think they should be running cricket in this country after doing something like this which was pathetic. What type of message are the Board sending out?“This situation did not happen at a Sunday afternoon game in the mountains somewhere where nobody saw it, . . it happened in front of thousands of people and even the Premier and Governor saw it.”BCB president Lloyd Fray had yet to respond to an invitation to comment on Gibbons’ inclusion in the training squad by press time. Further attempts to obtain comment from Gibbons also proved fruitless.Among those who have publicly condemned Gibbons’ behaviour is ex-St George’s Cup Match star Lee Raynor who described the player’s actions as “shameful, aggravating and embarrassing”. He also called on St George’s officials to impose tough disciplinary sanctions upon the player.No disciplinary action has yet been taken against Gibbons who has a history of disciplinary run-ins.Francis, who was a certified West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) umpire that also served on the ICC Elite Panel for the Americas region, also took issue with St George’s officials for failing to take swift disciplinary action against Gibbons.“It’s been nearly a week and the president of St George’s Cricket Club (Neil Paynter) says he needs to see the umpires’ report,” Francis said. “I don’t know why they need to see the umpires’ report because everybody saw what happened — it was even shown on TV.“When players overseas show dissent they are dealt with 10-15 minutes after the match ends. The umpires, coach and manager of the player are summoned and the charges read out and it’s either suspension, a reprimand or whatever the case may be.“But here it is nearly a week later and the club is waiting for an umpires’ report when everybody saw what the player did and then the Board go and name him in a training squad. This is just another sad day for Bermuda cricket.”