National cricket coach Arnold Manders granted squad captain Janeiro Tucker permission to play football at the weekend, according to a reliable source speaking on condition of anonymity.

Despite a previous directive that no player take part in a football match once the squad was picked, it’s understood Manders accepted Tucker’s request to turn out for Southampton Rangers.

Both Tucker and his national team-mate Dion Stovell scored in Rangers’ 3-1 victory over Hamilton Parish at Southampton Oval.

It isn’t known whether Stovell was also granted permission.

The source said a Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) official made it clear that players risked being “dropped” from the squad which will travel to Dubai for the World Twenty20 Qualifiers, if they continued to play football.

All-rounder Tucker, who is regarded a key player in Bermuda’s hopes to qualify for the World Cup Twenty20 finals, was reportedly given the go-ahead by Manders following a squad training session.

Manders hung the phone up when called by The Royal Gazette yesterday.

Tucker has been appointed captain in the absence of regular skipper, Stephen Outerbridge, who is unavailable to tour because of personal commitments.

On Monday, the Board made the following announcement: “The BCB is aware that some national squad players have recently played soccer. This matter is under investigation. There will be no further comment until the investigation is complete.”

The source said others in squad had voiced displeasure over Tucker’s decision to play for Rangers, claiming he should be setting a better example.

In a recent interview with this newspaper, Manders said squad members would be prohibited from playing football once the squad was chosen in order to minimise the risk of injury.

The touring party was announced during an October 15 press conference at the BCB headquarters.

The Twenty20 tournament will be held from November 15-30.

Bermuda have been pitted against Scotland, Denmark, Holland, Afghanistan, Kenya, Nepal and Papua New Guinea in Group B. Group A includes Ireland, Canada, UAE, Namibia, Hong Kong, Uganda, USA and Italy.

Six of the 16 countries represented will progress to the main tournament in Bangladesh next year.

Bermuda advanced to the qualifiers after finishing runners-up at March’s ICC America’s Division T20 Championship in Florida.