Jacobi Robinson, one of the Island?s brightest cricketing prospects, yesterday claimed that his senior international cricket career was on hold until he formally apologised to Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) for publicly speaking out on Board related matters.

The promising teenage all-rounder and his uncle, Jeff Richardson, both said they had been ordered to make official apologies to the governing body for publicly criticising them for not covering Robinson?s medical costs while he was enrolled at Port Elizabeth Cricket Academy in South Africa earlier this year.

However, Board treasurer Neil Speight vehemently denied that a public apology had ever been sought and stated that the sole reason for Robinson?s omission from the national squad was because of his failure to attend formal training sessions since his return from abroad.

Robinson was forced to fork out cash to cover his own medical expenses after having bone scans administered when it was discovered he had suffered a lower back strain.

Though the Somerset youngster yesterday refused to comment at length on the matter, he insisted he had been asked to apologise officially to the Board.

?First I was informed that I had been dropped (from senior national team training) because of a lack of training. But then I learned that I wouldn?t be allowed to train with the senior squad until me and my uncle (Richardson) had apologised to the Board,? stated Robinson.

?Right is right and wrong is wrong . . . but I am prepared to bite my tongue and just let it go. I just want to get back on the good books and put this whole ordeal behind me.?

Robinson is currently training with the Island?s Under-23 national squad in preparation for the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board Under-19 tournament in Jamaica ? though he was omitted from the local squad which took on the visiting Lloyd?s Cricket Club at the National Sports Centre last week.

When contacted yesterday, Speight was dismissive of the issue.

?That is rubbish! We haven?t asked for any apologies from anybody,? he stated.

Richardson, coach at Somerset Cricket Club, slammed the Board earlier this year for failure to cover Robinson?s expenses and for the swift decision to hold the player fully accountable if he aborted studies at the academy prematurely.

Robinson threatened to leave South Africa earlier than planned, a decision which ruffled a few feathers on the Board who hit back at the player via a stern press release.

?I think this is counterproductive. The Board have invested 12 weeks of schooling in this youngster overseas and if that (apology) is the requirement, then he (Robinson) should?ve been summoned before the Board and properly notified of the situation. But for nothing to be said at all is unbelievable, quite frankly,? commented Richardson yesterday.

According to national coach Mark Harper, Robinson was axed from the senior national programme for failure to attend practice sessions, a decision Richardson applauded ? though he questioned the overall national team selection process and reasons why Robinson wasn?t selected to represent the Island?s Under 23 national squad against the touring Lloyds of England last week.

?In order for players to be selected (to represent the national team) they must train,? he said. ?If Jacobi (Robinson) isn?t training then he can?t play. But that should be the case for everyone. It is public knowledge that there are only four or five players who were training regularly anyway. So where did the seven or eight other players come from? How can they be selected if they weren?t in training? If they haven?t been training then they shouldn?t be selected either.

?But I would like to know why wasn?t Jacobi (Robinson) chosen to play for the Under-23 squad last week.?