The Bermuda Cricket Board held a meeting with members of the national team training squad this week to address commitment and expectations of those interested in being a part of the team.

Several players have still not shown a commitment to training under new Bermuda coach Clay Smith as the team prepare for this summer’s ICC World Cricket League Division Four Tournament.

“We’ve been averaging 13 to 15 players so there is still room for improvement where that is concerned,” Smith said. “There are a few players still involved in football and we had a meeting to address the commitment levels and the expectations that we will have of the players moving forward.

“There are some issues that we have and hopefully we can get them sorted out so that we can get more commitment from the players.

“The players who haven’t come out as yet will be addressed to determine whether or not they’re interested. And if they are then they are going to have to make themselves available to train in the very near future or we’re going to have to move on without them.

“You don’t want to have guys training for three months and then all of a sudden you have a new face show up and expect to train and play. It’s not going to work like that.”

The squad is training twice a week at the indoor facility at Bermuda High School. Sessions have been very positive, Smith said.

“We understand some guys are playing football but we’re only training twice a week and even if they are only able to train once a week to show their face and show their interest,” Smith said.

“For some who are playing football, at least they are showing their interest, while for guys we don’t know if they are interested or not and we’ll have to move on without them.

“We’re going to be reaching out to them to see if they are still interested and if they are then they have to at least show that interest by coming to training. Once football is over we expect total commitment.”

The size of the training groups have allowed for more one-on-one attention. “There have been some very good training sessions,” Smith said.

“We’ll be doing indoor work right up until April and then we’ll be looking to go up to the NSC. I’m encouraged by the players who are there but some are lacking the total commitment.

“We’ll have at least three-trial games scheduled between May and June so that they can have a chance to play under a pressure situation because I want them to pick themselves through their performances. We’re at a point where we need to know who is on board and who is not on board.

“Over the next two or three weeks we’re going to find out where players are at so that we know, moving forward, what players we have to work with. Gone are the days when players can just show up because of who they are.

“The expectation is they will have to train and put the work in just like everybody else.

“It’s only fair to those guys who are training. We have some guys who have 100 per cent training record, not missed one session, and that’s where we want to get to. It’s only right that we give them a fair opportunity to play.”