Fears that the introduction of a new two-day format will prove to be a burden on the Island?s cricket umpires have been dismissed by president of Bermuda Cricket Board, Reginald Pearman.

Following advice late last year from the International Cricket Council?s Regional Development Manager, Martin Vieria, that Bermuda include multiple-day games in its domestic schedule, the Board have taken immediate steps to explore that possibility by appointing a technical committee.

However, while none of their members are willing to go on record, it is understood that officials of Bermuda Cricket Umpires? Association are concerned about being kept in the dark and not being included among those chosen to look into the two-day format.

BCUA secretary Randy Butler said he wasn?t aware of any disgruntled officials within his group, but he said that he personally would have welcomed an invitation to serve as a member of the panel.

Panel members are chairman Marc Wetherhill, Saleem Mukuddem, Wendell Smith, Arnold Manders, Allan Douglas, Winston Reid, Graham Strange, Winston Reid and national coach Mark Harper.

?Firstly, I am not by any means upset that we have not had a member included, but it would have been nice and rather appropriate if we did have somebody asked to join them,? said Butler.

?We haven?t heard much official about there being a consideration about including two-day cricket in the domestic schedule, but we would be concerned because we have been stretched to the limited the last few years by having to accommodate a limited over schedule with dwindling numbers.?

Pearman, however, said that umpires would be consulted when a plan was developed and the proposed format might not be as burdensome as some umpires believed. ?No, no way, the umpires are not being overlooked at all. The panel will come up with various suggestions or recommendations and present them to the Board,? said Pearman. ?The panel may indeed consult some officials of the BCUA during deliberations and eventually when we are ready, the report will be presented to both the BCUA and the clubs for approval.

?Although nothing has been determined, adding two-day cricket to our schedule may not be nearly as much a burden as people may think. Our initial thought was to use that format for the Premier Division for a two to three month period, not having the teams play every week.

?There would probably be a week break here and there in the schedule and again you wouldn?t be playing home and away, basically you would be playing just one round with eight teams and then you would have the usual limited overs cricket in between. So we are not talking about umpires being out there every Saturday and Sunday from April to September.?

Pearman stressed the importance of Bermuda thoroughly investigating the benefits of two-day cricket, even for a limited period.

He noted that much had been said of the importance of giving local players the opportunity to bowl and bat longer, opportunities that were not available in limited overs cricket, and by implementing two-day cricket the Board were indeed listening.

?It?s imperative that if we are to continue to participate in international cricket we have to abide by what the ICC says and somehow we have to play a longer version of cricket here in the Island,? said Pearman.

With the new season set to get underway around the middle of April, the Board are expected to schedule a special general meeting soon so that the report of the format for two-day cricket and other structural recommendations for the new season can be presented to the general membership for approval.